This tool is for Child Protective Investigators to assist them in understanding human trafficking and identifying children who are victims. It does not represent all instances of human trafficking or areas that may be explored to determine if human trafficking is present.

Florida and Federal law both define human trafficking. Trafficking of children is generally understood to be:

The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a child for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Under federal law, sex trafficking (such as prostitution, pornography, exotic dancing, etc.) does not require there be force, fraud, or coercion if the victim is under 18.

Trafficking victims may be smuggled into and within the U.S., arrive with a legitimate visa or be U.S. citizens.

Trafficking occurs in many different situations including domestic servitude, construction, landscaping, the sex industry, factories and sweatshops migrant farm work, service industries such as nursing homes, cleaning services, bars and restaurants and the food industry.