Human Trafficking Lawyers

According to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), human trafficking is when a commercial sex act or labor is coerced, forced or obtained using fraudulent methods. There are two types of human trafficking:

• Sex trafficking: When a commercial sex act is induced using coercion, force or fraud, or when a commercial sex act is induced with a someone under the age of 18.
• Labor trafficking: When someone is recruited, transported, and harbored for labor services using coercion, fraud or force. Those who have been labor trafficked are subject to involuntary servitude, debt bondage, peonage, or slavery.

According to SchoolSafety.gov, child exploitation occurs when a trusted adult or someone online, recruits a child for sexual activity, the creation and distribution of child sexual abuse material, grooming, sextortion, and self-harm. If you or a loved one has been the victim of child exploitation in person or online, our sexual abuse lawyers can help you navigate the path forward. Receive a free case review today.

It is a crime to create, possess and distribute CSAM. According to RAINN, CSAM is any image or recording that depicts one of the following:

• Sexual acts involving a minor.
• Images of a child’s genitals or private areas.
• Live-streamed or web-cammed child sexual abuse.
• AI-generated content that makes it look like a child is being abused.
• Any content that sexualizes or exploits a child for the viewer’s benefit.

The federal government and all 50 states have laws criminalizing both types of human trafficking: forced labor and sex trafficking. There are lower burdens of proof for minors and many states have some form of safe harbor law to protect victims from prosecution for actions they were forced to do by their traffickers.

The federal laws against human trafficking can be found on the website for the Department of Homeland Security.

If you believe you or a loved one have been trafficked, we’re here for you. We’ll listen to your story, and if we can help, we will.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, warning signs of human trafficking include:

• A person appears disconnected from their network including family and friends.
• A child who has stopped attending school.
• A person has had a sudden or dramatic change in behavior.
• A minor who has engaged in commercial sex acts.
• A person seem disoriented or confused, or are showing signs of mental or physical abuse. This can include bruises in various stages of healing, malnourishment, and sleep deprivation.
• A person is fearful, timid, or submissive. They are often in the company of someone who seems to be in control of them and they don’t seem to have the freedom to leave.
• They appear to be coached on what to say.
• They are living in unsuitable conditions.
• They appear to lack personal possessions and appear not to have a stable living situation.

According to the Alaska Department of Family and Community Services these are the signs a child could be being sexually exploited:

• They withdraw from family and friends.
• They have a sudden increase in money.
• They start using highly sexualized slang.
• They are a chronic runaway.
• They talk about losing property.
• They have new, frequent or unexplained injuries. Especially injuries like cigarette burns, hair loss from hair pulls, and lacerations.
• They lie about their identity or age.
• History of more than 5 sexual partners.
• History of a sexually transmitted disease.
• Genital or anal injuries.
• Signs of substance abuse.
• Unwilling pregnancy.
• Mental illness like depression and anxiety.

If you or a loved one has been forced or tricked into performing commercial sex acts or unpaid or underpaid labor, it’s important to speak with a lawyer as soon as you feel ready. If you or your loved one willingly said “yes” without force, but you or they were under the age of 18 at the time, that is still a form of child exploitation.

Our human trafficking and exploitation lawyers are here to listen to your story, protect your rights, and connect you with resources to help you heal. We will never pressure you into taking legal action before you’re ready. A free, confidential consultation is the first step toward understanding your options and moving forward.