National Human Trafficking Hotline   1-888-373-7888

Human trafficking is "modern day slavery."

Sex trafficking is when a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or when a person under the age of 18 is induced to perform a commercial sex act.

Labor trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

Human trafficking is the 2nd largest criminal industry in the world today; 2nd only to the illegal drug trade.  It is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. 

Human trafficking is not just happening in third world countries.  It happens throughout the United States including here in Alabama. It happens

here in Dothan.  

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 defines human trafficking as labor trafficking and/or sex trafficking.  Traffickers gain complete control of their victims through coercion, force, or fraud.  Although both types of trafficking occur, sex trafficking is the most prevalent form in the United States.

​

​

It is estimated that 80% of sex trafficking victims are female.  However, males can be victims too.

The average age of victims who are forced into the sex trade is 11-14 years of age, and exploitation can continue for years.   

Sex trafficking children is a brutal form of human trafficking and child sexual abuse.  Experts estimate that up to as many as 300,000 children are at risk of being exploited into prostitution each year.  Pimps target the vulnerable, such as runaways, homeless youth, or children who have been abused or neglected.

The United States provides the greatest demand for sex or pornography with children more than any other country in the world.

Human trafficking has become a reality in our state and in the large cities surrounding our state including Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and Atlanta.  Human trafficking continues to escalate and spill over into Alabama communities largely due to trafficking activity along I-85, I-65,

I-20 and I-10.

Alabama has had a human trafficking law since 2010.  A Safe Harbor Act was introduced during the 2016 legislative session by Representative Jack Williams (Vestavia Hills) and passed to ensure that children caught up in human trafficking are recognized as victims and not as criminals.

Human trafficking is a clear and present danger to Alabama and its communities.  Cases have been reported all over the state (Montgomery County, Jefferson County, Fort Payne, Madison County, Huntsville, Albertville, Guntersville, Mobile, and Dothan).