About Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is illegal exploitation of a person through force, fraud, or coercion. Yes, human trafficking takes place in Missouri. It takes the form of: sex trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude. Human trafficking is not specific to age, race, or gender. In each instance, victims are forced or coerced to work for little or no pay. Human trafficking is modern day slavery.
How Do I Recognize Human Trafficking?
- Does the person show signs of having been denied food, water, sleep, or medical care? Do they have bruises in various stages of healing?
- Is the person disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical abuse?
- Is the person often with someone to whom he or she defers or who seems to control the situation?
- Does the person appear to be coached on what to say?
- Does the person appear disconnected from family, friends, community organizations, or houses of worship?
- Is the person living in unsuitable conditions?
- Can the person come and go from their residence freely?
- Has a child stopped attending school?
- Look for underage girls who look out of place (possibly wearing revealing clothing).
- Are minors in a public place when they should be in school? How many of them are there?
- Will they make eye contact? Or, do they drop their head? Do they look scared?
- Are they on phones or ask to borrow your phone?
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.
What Can I Do If I Suspect Human Trafficking?
Report Suspected Human Trafficking
Call: 1-888-373-7888
If you believe you have observed or experienced human trafficking, please call.
If you talk to someone you suspect is a victim of trafficking, kindly ask questions. What are they doing? Do they see their family? Do they keep any of the money they earn?
If you're at a truck stop or rest area at night, are trucks flashing their headlights? Are girls going up to the trucks? Document a vehicle color, make, model, license plate number, number of people in the vehicle, driver description, take a photo if it is safe to do so.
Don't rescue them. Call 9-1-1 or *55.
Are You A Victim Of Human Trafficking?
If you are a victim of human trafficking, please call 9-1-1 or *55. Let us help.
You can also contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFREE (233722). Help the Missouri State Highway Patrol stop human trafficking.
Sources: Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.