Human trafficking* refers to both labor and sex trafficking.
Labor trafficking means forcing or tricking someone to work through lies, threats or pressure. This can include bringing them from one place to another and making them work to pay off a debt or keeping them in a job they cannot leave.
Sex trafficking means using lies, pressure or force to make someone take part in sex acts for money or something of value. It also includes any situation where someone under 18 is made to do this, even without force or threats.*The official state definitions can be found in § 19.2-327.15 of the Virginia Code.
Who Is Affected by Human Trafficking?
Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking, regardless of age, race, gender or nationality. Virginia's victims are as diverse as its population; however, certain groups are more vulnerable.
A quarter of human trafficking victims in Virginia are minors. Children who have unstable living conditions - such as those experiencing homelessness, who have run away, or are in the foster care system - are often subjected to trafficking through social media or traffickers posing as caregivers and friends. Children with a history of abuse, involvement in the juvenile justice system and those experiencing poverty are also at higher risk of being taken advantage of because of these challenges. Additionally, LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately represented among those experiencing homelessness, increasing their vulnerability to traffickers.
Immigrants, noncitizens and people of color are also disproportionately affected by human trafficking. Undocumented immigrants and individuals who speak limited English are more vulnerable to exploitation due to language and legal barriers. In a 2023 report from the Virginia Commission on Human Trafficking Prevention and Survivor Support, nearly 40% of identified adult survivors of human trafficking were Black females.
How Often Does Human Trafficking Happen in Virginia?
In 2024, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 661 signals, or tips, in the state of Virginia. The tips led to 228 cases involving 342 victims. Of these cases, at least 115 were identified as sex trafficking, 61 as labor trafficking, and 26 as both.
The most common venues for sex trafficking cases in Virginia include, but are not limited to, spas, resident-based commercial sex work, hotels, strip clubs and online ads. The most common venues for labor trafficking include construction sites, food service and transportation.
What Can You Do?
- Learn the signs - like people who seem scared, controlled, or unable to leave a place.
- Speak up if you see something:
- In an emergency, call 911
- For tips, text VSP to 847411 (Virginia State Police)
- Reach the Virginia Victim Assistance Network's Human Trafficking Line by calling or texting 833-463-6448
- Call the Virginia Department of Social Services' 24-hour, toll-free Child Protective Services Hotline at (800) 552-7096 for minors or Adult Protective Services Hotline at (888) 832-3858 for vulnerable adults
- Contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888 or texting 233733
- Visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or call their hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678)
- Support survivors by sharing what you learn and helping create safer, kinder communities.
Training
Identifying Sex Trafficking in Child Welfare is a training course designed for local departments of social services staff and community partners within the Commonwealth of Virginia. The purpose of this training is to raise awareness regarding the impact of human trafficking - particularly commercial sex trafficking - on vulnerable youth in foster care, runaways and those experiencing abuse, neglect or other family dysfunction in their homes. Federal and state efforts to combat this problem are outlined, along with strategies for local detection and intervention.
This course will take approximately 90 minutes to complete and will cover the following:
- Defining human trafficking
- Defining Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking
- Recognizing at-risk populations
- Distinguishing vulnerabilities of children in the child welfare system
- Identifying victims in the child welfare system
- Developing response plans after identification and providing intervention services
- Defining the Prudent Parent Standard
