Human Trafficking

This textbook approaches human trafficking from the perspective of criminal justice, aiming to teach investigators how to collect intelligence on trafficking cases and fit that work into the stages of an investigation. Case studies appear throughout to show these methods in practice.

The early material defines trafficking, sorts it into its different forms, and traces how it has changed over time. It then examines both the people who are trafficked and the people who carry it out. Later chapters turn to industries with a particular exposure to exploitation and to the warning signs investigators should learn to recognize. Because online spaces produce their own signals, the internet and social media each receive a dedicated chapter.

The closing chapters bring these threads together, explaining how to gather, evaluate, investigate, and present information for use in legal proceedings. The book ends with a broad overview of anti-trafficking legislation and guidance on what to pursue next.