What is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is the exploitation of a person for the purpose of labor, services, or a commercial sex act.
MASSACHUSETTS STATE LAW
In 2011, Massachusetts enacted “An Act Relative to the Commercial Exploitation of People” to address the exploitation of children and adults for purposes of sexual servitude and forced labor. This comprehensive legislation created new offenses and increased penalties for existing crimes, expanded reporting obligations, mandated inter-agency cooperation to provide services to victims, and established a Victims of Human Trafficking Fund to help fund those services.
According to the Massachusetts Criminal Trafficking Statutes, human trafficking is defined as follows:
Sex Trafficking (Mass. General Law ch. 265, § 50):
Whoever knowingly:
(i) subjects, or attempts to subject, or recruits, entices, harbors, transports, provides or obtains by any means, or attempts to recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide or obtain by any means, another person to engage in commercial sexual activity, a sexually-explicit performance or the production of unlawful pornography in violation of M.G.L. C. 27212, or causes a person to engage in commercial sexual activity, a sexually-explicit performance or the production of unlawful pornography in violation of said chapter 272; or
(ii) benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value, as a result of a violation of clause (i), shall be guilty of the crime of trafficking of persons for sexual servitude…
Labor Trafficking (Mass. General Law ch. 265, § 51):
Whoever knowingly:
(i) subjects, or attempts to subject, another person to forced services, or recruits, entices, harbors, transports, provides or obtains by any means, or attempts to recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide or obtain by any means, another person, intending or knowing that such person will be subjected to forced services; or
(ii) benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value, as a result of a violation of clause (i), shall be guilty of trafficking of persons for forced service.
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WHO IS AT RISK?
While anyone can be affected by trafficking, data consistently shows that there are some populations that are at a higher risk. Generational trauma, historic oppression, discrimination, and other societal factors and inequities create community-wide vulnerabilities. Other factors that lead to a disproportionate risk of trafficking include: 1) history of abuse and neglect, (2) social stigma and exclusion, and (3) social disconnection. (Polaris Project; National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center)
The vast majority of trafficking victims identified in the United States are:
- People of Color
- LGBTQ+ Individuals
- Indigenous Communities
- Immigrants
Other vulnerable populations include:
- Individuals with Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders
- Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
- Disconnected Youth
- Youth in the Foster Care System
- Individuals with Disabilities
- Survivors of Other Violence
- In-Home Workers
- Migrant and Seasonal Workers
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RECOGNIZING HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying victims and can help save lives.
Common indicators to help recognize human trafficking include:
- the person appears disconnected from family, friends, community organizations, or houses of worship
- the child has stopped going to school
- a sudden or dramatic change in behavior
- the person is engaging in commercial sex acts
- the person is disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical abuse or drug use
- the person has visible bruises or injuries in various stages of healing
- the person is fearful, timid, or submissive to another
- the person shows signs of having been denied food, water, sleep, or medical care
- the person is often in the company of someone to whom he or she defers to or someone who seems to be in control of the situation
- the person appears to be coached on what to say
- the person is living in unsuitable conditions
- the person lacks personal possessions and appear not to have a stable living situation
- the person does not have freedom of movement or is unable to leave a situation freely
Not all indicators listed above are present in every human trafficking situation, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking however if you suspect that someone is being exploited for labor or sex acts, they may be being trafficked.
REPORT IT
- 24/7 NATIONAL HOTLINE CALL 1-888-373-8888 or TEXT “INFO” to 233733
- MA FAIR LABOR HOTLINE (M-F 10AM-4PM) CALL 617-727-3465
- NORFOLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENTS
- Avon Police Department: (508) 583-6677
- Bellingham Police Department: (508) 966-1515
- Braintree Police Department: (781) 843-1212
- Brookline Police Department: (617) 730- 2222
- Canton Police Department: (781) 821-5090
- Cohasset Police Department: (781) 383-1212
- Dedham Police Department: (781) 751-9300
- Dover Police Department: (508) 785-1130
- Foxborough Police Department: (508) 543-4343
- Franklin Police Department: (508) 528-1212
- Holbrook Police Department: (781) 767-1212
- Medfield Police Department: (508) 359-2315
- Medway Police Department: (508) 533-3212
- Millis Police Department: (508) 376-5112
- Milton Police Department: (617) 698-3800
- Needham Police Department: (781) 455-7570
- Norfolk Police Department: (508) 528-3206
- Norwood Police Department: (781) 440-5100
- Plainville Police Department: (508) 809-5555
- Quincy Police Department: (617) 479-1212
- Randolph Police Department: (781) 963-1212
- Sharon Police Department: (781) 784-1587
- Stoughton Police Department: (781) 344-2424
- Walpole Police Department: (508) 668-1212
- Wellesley Police Department: (781) 235-1212
- Westwood Police Department: (781) 320-1000
- Weymouth Police Department: (781) 335-1212
- Wrentham Police Department: (508) 384-2121
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month to raise awareness about human trafficking and to reflect on the resilience of survivors.
