Starting over a decade ago, Polaris, a leading data-driven movement to fight human trafficking, created the United States National Human Trafficking Hotline. Polaris created the national hotline to assist victims and survivors of human trafficking and to hold traffickers responsible for their abuse. Since creating the national hotline, Polaris has created numerous local hotlines to support communities nationally. Specifically, Polaris announced the Philadelphia County National Human Trafficking Hotline and the Montgomery County National Human Trafficking Hotline to target ongoing human trafficking issues in Philadelphia County and Montgomery County by providing victims a safe start to exiting the life.
The hotlines encompass data from January 1, 2018, to December 21, 2020. Although the data is not comprehensive considering the sensitive nature of human trafficking and the limited awareness of the hotlines, the statistics are accurate as of March 10, 2022. The available data represents who has access to and knowledge of the hotline; who has the means to reach out; and who is more likely to self-identify as a likely victim or someone in need of assistance. The individuals who reached out to the hotline did so through phone calls, emails, online tip reports, SMS, or Webchats.
Once Polaris received such notice of human trafficking and assisted the likely victim, Polaris organized the data by varying categories to support informed and safe efforts for victims of trafficking.
Philadelphia County National Human Trafficking Hotline:
Total Number of Likely Victims of Human Trafficking
The first section of the hotline data recognizes the number of likely victims – 166 in 2018, 189 in 2019, and 95 in 2020. From 2018 to 2020, the number of likely victims has decreased. Subsequently, the data recognizes the varying types of trafficking, including sex trafficking, labor trafficking, as well as combined sex and labor trafficking.
Number of Likely Victims by Their Age, Gender, Immigration Status, and Race
The second section of the hotline data first identifies the age of the likely victims at the time of their first contact with the hotline – not necessarily the age of the likely victim when the exploitative situation began. In terms of adults, the number of likely victims was 67 in 2018, 60 in 2019, and 48 in 2020. Conversely, in terms of minors, the number of likely victims was 25 in 2018, 60 in 2019, and 29 in 2020. The hotline data then identified the age of the likely victim at the age at entry into exploitation. In terms of adults, the number of likely victims was 13 in 2018, 10 in 2019, and 9 in 2020. Conversely, in terms of minors, the number of likely victims was 29 in 2018, 66 in 2019, and 36 in 2020.
The third section of the hotline data explores the breakdown of victims between females, males, and gender minorities & unknown. In terms of females, the number of likely victims was 135 in 2018, 133 in 2019, and 76 in 2020. In terms of males, the number of likely victims was 14 in 2018, 10 in 2019, and 7 in 2020. Lastly, in terms of gender minorities & unknown, the number of likely victims was 17 in 2018, 46 in 2019, and 12 in 2020. Despite trafficking affecting individuals of all genders, females disproportionately continue to maintain the majority of likely victims of trafficking in Philadelphia County.
The fourth section of the hotline data recognizes the varying immigration statuses of likely victims, including domestic, foreign, and unknown. In terms of domestic victims, the number of likely victims as U.S. Citizens and Legal Permanent Residents was 15 in 2018, 8 in 2019, and 7 in 2020. In terms of foreign victims, the number of likely victims was 14 in 2018, 18 in 2019, and 9 in 2020.
The fifth section of the hotline data identifies the race/ethnicities of likely victims, including African American/Black; Asian; Caucasian or White; and Latinx. In terms of victims who are African American/Black, there were 12 in 2018, 10 in 2019, and 8 in 2020. Additionally, in terms of victims who are Asian, there were 12 in 2018, 20 in 2019, and 5 in 2020. Additionally, in terms of victims who are Caucasian or White, there were 7 in 2018, 3 in 2019, and 3 in 2020. Lastly, in terms of victims who are Latinx, there were 12 in 2018, 7 in 2019, and 9 in 2020. Overall, the number of likely victims across all races have decreased from 2018 to 2020.
Typology of Trafficking, Risks Factors and Vulnerabilities Prior to Trafficking Incidents
The sixth section of the hotline data examines the type of trafficking the likely victim experienced, including but not limited to, bars, strip clubs, and cantinas; domestic work; illicit massage, health & beauty; outdoor solicitation; personal sexual servitude; and pornography.
The seventh section of the hotline data explores the counts of risk factors and vulnerabilities that applied to the likely victim immediately prior to or at the time of entry into their trafficking situation. Polaris identifies an expansive list of risk factors and vulnerabilities – further emphasizing the unprotected situations victims are forced into by their traffickers. Many of the horrific factors identified include having a caretaker involved in sexualized industry; having a caretaker with substance use concerns; being involved in the child welfare system; having a criminal record; experiencing sexual abuse or violence; being in foster care; being a gender/romantic/sexual minority; having mental health concerns; having physical health concerns; being previously involved in the sexualized industry; having recently migrated/relocated; running away or being a homeless youth; having substance use concerns; and having unstable housing. Many likely victims face more than one risk, and the list is non-exhaustive.
Victim Recruitment and Control
The eighth section of the hotline data first recognizes the count of relationships of recruiter to likely victims, including employers, family members, friends/acquaintances/coworkers, and intimate partners. In addition to the relationships of the recruiters to the likely victims, Polaris also tracks how victims are recruited, including abduction, coercion, false promises/fraud, familial, intimate partner/marriage proposition, job/offer advertisement, and posing as a benefactor.
The ninth section of the hotline data collects the methods of control traffickers use to force victims into trafficking, including but not limited to, economic abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, isolation, intimidation, monitoring/stalking, threats, forcing potential minors into commercial sex, among other forms of force, fraud, and coercion.
Access Points and Victim Assistance
The final section of the hotline data measures the counts of systems, institutions, or people the likely victim of trafficking interacted with or had access to during the exploitative situation or immediately after/upon escape, including but not limited to, access to education, general social services, shelters, and transportation. Since 2018, victims continue to receive greater access to health services, access to social media, interactions with family and friend, as well as interactions with law enforcement. Polaris will continue to collect such categories of data in Philadelphia County.
Montgomery County National Human Trafficking Hotline:
Total Number of Likely Victims of Human Trafficking
The first section of the hotline data recognizes the number of likely victims – 29 in 2018, 56 in 2019, and 33 in 2020. From 2019 to 2020, the number of likely victims has decreased. Subsequently, the data recognizes the varying types of trafficking, including sex trafficking, labor trafficking, as well as combined sex and labor trafficking.
Number of Likely Victims by Their Age, Gender, Immigration Status, and Race
The second section of the hotline data first identifies the age of the likely victims at the time of their first contact with the hotline – not necessarily the age of the likely victim when the exploitative situation began. In terms of adults, the number of likely victims was 17 in 2018, 16 in 2019, and 23 in 2020. Conversely, in terms of minors, the number of likely victims was 8 in 2018, 35 in 2019, and 7 in 2020. The hotline data then identified the age of the likely victim at the age at entry into exploitation. In terms of adults, the number of likely victims was 4 in 2018, no tracked victims in 2019, and no tracked victims in 2020. Conversely, in terms of minors, the number of likely victims was 9 in 2018, 37 in 2019, and 8 in 2020.
The third section of the hotline data explores the breakdown of victims between females, males, and gender minorities & unknown. In terms of females, the number of likely victims was 29 in 2018, 34 in 2019, and 27 in 2020. In terms of males, there were no tracked victims in 2018 nor 2019 but the number of likely victims was 4 in 2020. Lastly, in terms of gender minorities & unknown, there were no tracked victims in 2018, 20 likely victims in 2019, and no tracked victims in 2020. Despite trafficking affecting individuals of all genders, females disproportionately continue to maintain the majority of likely victims in trafficking in Montgomery County.
The fourth section of the hotline data recognizes the varying immigration statuses of likely victims, including domestic, foreign, and unknown. In terms of domestic victims, the number of likely victims as U.S. Citizens and Legal Permanent Residents was 3 in 2018 but no tracked victims in 2019 and 2020. In terms of foreign victims, the number of likely victims was 15 in 2018, 45 in 2019, and 26 in 2020.
The fifth section of the hotline data identifies the race/ethnicities of likely victims, including African; African American/Black; Asian; Caucasian or White; Latinx; and Middle Eastern. Instead of providing a year-by-year breakdown, Polaris provided a three-year total between 2018 to 2020 to protect the privacy of likely victims. In terms of likely victims, there were no likely African victims; 3 likely African American/Black victims; 23 likely Asian victims; no likely Caucasian or White victims; 6 likely Latinx victims; and 8 likely Middle Eastern victims.
Typology of Trafficking, Risks Factors and Vulnerabilities Prior to Trafficking Incidents
The sixth section of the hotline data examines the type of trafficking the likely victim experienced, including but not limited to, bars, strip clubs, and cantinas; domestic work; illicit massage, health & beauty; outdoor solicitation; personal sexual servitude; and pornography.
The seventh section of the hotline data explores the counts of risk factors and vulnerabilities that applied to the likely victim immediately prior to or at the time of entry into their trafficking situation. Polaris identifies an expansive list of risk factors and vulnerabilities – further emphasizing the unprotected situations victims are forced into by their traffickers. Many of the horrific factors identified include having a caretaker with substance use concerns; being in foster care; and having recently migrated/relocated.
Victim Recruitment and Control
The eighth section of the hotline data first recognizes the count of relationships of recruiter to likely victims, including employers, family members/caregivers, friends/acquaintances/coworkers, and intimate partners. In addition to the relationships of the recruiters to the likely victims, Polaris also tracks how victims are recruited, including familial and intimate partner/marriage propositions.
The ninth section of the hotline data collects the methods of control traffickers use to force victims into trafficking, including but not limited to, economic abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, isolation, intimidation, monitoring/stalking, threats, forcing potential minors in commercial sex, among many other forms of force, fraud, and coercion.
Access Points and Victim Assistance
The final section of the hotline data measures the counts of systems, institutions, or people the likely victim of trafficking interacted with or had access to during the exploitative situation or immediately after/upon escape, including but not limited to, access to health services; interaction with friends and family; and interaction with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Since the creations of the hotlines, victims continue to receive greater access to assistance in order to support a safe exit from the life. Polaris will continue to collect such categories of data to help enforce these efforts. Moreover, the CSE Institute will continue to share data collection as it becomes available to ensure victims of trafficking get the help they desperately deserve.
For hotline information pertaining to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, click here. If you or a loved one in and out of Philadelphia or Montgomery County would like to reach out to the hotlines, please call 1-888-373-7888, text 233733, or chat through the link here.
All views expressed herein are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law or of Villanova University.