The Merriam Webster dictionary defines human trafficking as: organized criminal activity in which human beings are treated as possessions to be controlled and exploited. In other words, modern day slavery in the form of forced prostitution and forced labor. Traffickers trick individuals into forced labor and sex trafficking by manipulating and take advantage of their weaknesses. Human traffickers use force, threats, lies, and substance abuse to control their victims. There are four main ways in which individuals are lured into human trafficking. The first way is by getting people to cross the border promising them great jobs, opportunities, and freedom. However, when these people arrive in the destination country, these individuals are instead forced into commercial sex work or other industries. The second way traffickers get people, is buy having them agree to work in respectable environments with decent wages, but then force them to work under slave-like conditions for little or no pay. A third way traffickers get their victims is by simply kidnapping them, and then drugging or forcing them to do what they want. And the last major way traffickers get their victims is that in many impoverished countries, women may be sold to traffickers by their husbands or parents. Human trafficking has become a popular topic in more recent years due to active groups and foundations in helping shine light on a horrible crime. Human trafficking is not only in a neighborhood near you; it is in your neighborhood. According to International Labor Organization, Almost 21 million people are victims of forced labor at any given time. Out of these victims, it is estimated that females 55% of human trafficking victims, and men represent 45% (ILO, 2005). Human trafficking mainly encompasses exploitation which comes in many forms ranging from forcing victims into prostitution, forced work in sweatshops or other physically demanding jobs like construction, for little to no pay. According to some estimates, approximately 20% of trafficking involves labor exploitation, and the other 80% involves sexual exploitation (Kubasek & Herrera, 2015). With the vast amounts of victims being trafficked, it only increases the profits the traffickers make and continues to fuel the “demand” for the crime. The rational choice theory in criminology, is the belief that criminals use reason, when deciding if they are going to commit a crime or not.
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This means they weigh the pros and cons, and determine if the reward is worth the risk. Because criminals see human trafficking as low risk and high reward, it is in their nature to try and get away with it. After international drug trade, trafficking of humans is tied for second place with arms dealing as the second- largest criminal industry in the world. The International Labor Organization claims that human trafficking turns an annual worldwide profit of $44.3 billion, and forced generates $150 billion in illegal profits per year. (ILO, 2005). Unlike drugs, humans can be sold over and over again. This is seen as a pro for criminals, because after they are done with them, they can sell them to someone else. Another reason that criminals think that the pros outweigh the cons, is that it is difficult for law enforcement to catch them. Pimping young girls is a lot less risky than selling drugs. If they do get caught, the girl is the one that gets arrested, and they won’t tell on their pimps because they are scared for their lives. There are many laws and practices in place to stop human trafficking. In the year 2000, a very important piece of legislation was passed by Congress, called the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). This federal law was the first piece of U.S. legislation which helps prevent human trafficking, aid victims, and prosecute traffickers (Kubasek & Herrera, 2015). The Trafficking Victims Protect Act helped by making it easier for the victim to sue the trafficker, allowing victims who were taken from foreign counties temporary passports, and many other things. The TVPA also established a law requiring defendants of human trafficking investigations to pay restitution to the victims they exploited. While the federal TVPA is put into place as a guideline for the entire nation, individual states have
This means they weigh the pros and cons, and determine if the reward is worth the risk. Because criminals see human trafficking as low risk and high reward, it is in their nature to try and get away with it. After international drug trade, trafficking of humans is tied for second place with arms dealing as the second- largest criminal industry in the world. The International Labor Organization claims that human trafficking turns an annual worldwide profit of $44.3 billion, and forced generates $150 billion in illegal profits per year. (ILO, 2005). Unlike drugs, humans can be sold over and over again. This is seen as a pro for criminals, because after they are done with them, they can sell them to someone else. Another reason that criminals think that the pros outweigh the cons, is that it is difficult for law enforcement to catch them. Pimping young girls is a lot less risky than selling drugs. If they do get caught, the girl is the one that gets arrested, and they won’t tell on their pimps because they are scared for their lives. There are many laws and practices in place to stop human trafficking. In the year 2000, a very important piece of legislation was passed by Congress, called the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). This federal law was the first piece of U.S. legislation which helps prevent human trafficking, aid victims, and prosecute traffickers (Kubasek & Herrera, 2015). The Trafficking Victims Protect Act helped by making it easier for the victim to sue the trafficker, allowing victims who were taken from foreign counties temporary passports, and many other things. The TVPA also established a law requiring defendants of human trafficking investigations to pay restitution to the victims they exploited. While the federal TVPA is put into place as a guideline for the entire nation, individual states have