Reporting a Case of Slavery

Even people who are knowledgeable about modern-day slavery are sometimes unaware of cases in their own communities, but citizens have discovered cases of slavery in apartment buildings, homes, offices, massage parlors, brothels, farms, restaurants, and other locations across the country. Each year, 800,000 people are trafficked, or transported for exploitation in slavery or slave-like conditions, around the world; 20,000 of these cases are in the United States.

With so many people being enslaved, the victims are a diverse group. Although the majority are women and children, men are also victims. They can be citizens or foreign nationals, legal or illegal residents, and they live in both city and rural areas. There is no easy way to identify these victims of slavery, and they are usually closely watched to prevent escape.

If you come into contact with someone that you suspect may be forced to work for no pay under the threat of violence, there are a few signs which may show whether the person is a victim. Victims of trafficking may have bruises or signs of abuse, show extreme fear, (especially of authorities), appear to be controlled by someone else, lack proper identification or have language barriers. Certainly not all these indicators will be present in every person, but they are a few things to keep in mind.

If you happen to be close enough to a potential victim in order to speak to them, certain questions will assist you in discerning their situation. While asking these questions, be sensitive to the fact that the person may be under extreme stress and in fear, and it may not be easy for them to talk about their situation. Also be aware that it is often not safe to talk to a potential victim, and you should use extreme caution in approaching the person. The questions include:

Can you tell me about your current situation?
How did you get your job?
What is a typical day like?

Keep in mind that the person may have difficulty communicating in English, and this - combined with their emotional turmoil - will make obtaining a clear picture of their situation difficult. Do keep your suspicions from the possible slave holder. Do not attempt to free the person. If you are not completely convinced of their safety and freedom, there are several good resources you can turn to:

National Worker Exploitation Hotline: 1-888-428-7581. Department of Justice staffers are available from 9am to 5pm EST. Calls are confidential, and all tips that come in are referred to attorneys in the Civil Rights Division. Operators speak several different languages.
National Trafficking in Persons Hotline: 1-866-US-TIPLINE. This 24-hour U.S.-based hotline is for both victims and for people reporting suspected cases. It also passes information on to law enforcement. There are also three equivalent hotlines staffed by women speaking Korean (1-888-9-POLARIS), Spanish (1-888-80-AYUDA), and Thai (1-866-856-THAI).