Human Trafficking Hotline

Human trafficking includes sex trafficking and labor trafficking, and is often referred to as 'modern day slavery.' It is a global and local issue, even in Dayton. Human Trafficking is currently the second largest growing criminal enterprise in the country.

Human trafficking is defined as an organized criminal activity in which human beings are treated as possessions to be controlled and exploited (as by being forced into prostitution/commercial sex or involuntary labor.)

• Commercial sexual exploitation of a child is the use of any person under the age of 18 for sexual purposes in exchange for cash or favors. It can occur between a child and a customer, the trafficker, or even a family member. These individuals profit from the use of children sexually, such as in child pornography.
• Sex trafficking can be a pimp forcing a person to turn tricks and then turn the money over to him. Often this is associated with physical violence, threats to the woman or her family, and drug addiction.
• Labor trafficking is when someone is forced to work for little or no compensation. This is often seen when immigrants come to the United States to work. Often they are forced to "repay" their travel fees and expenses with direct labor and not currency, this is known as debt bondage. Often the worker continues to accrue charges for food, lodging and clothes. As a result, the debt is sometimes never paid back or at an incredibly slow rate.

Signs to look for: Someone forced into labor will not speak to customers. If a question is asked, another person answers for them. If they do answer questions, the answers may be short or seem coached. Labor trafficking victims are often housed together in large numbers and sometimes at the place of business.

What do I do if I believe someone is a victim? If something doesn't seem right, tell someone! You can call the National Human Trafficking Resources Center at 1-888-373-7888, or locally you can call the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Human Trafficking Hotline at 937-225-4357, or humantrafficking@mcohiosheriff.org