Human Trafficking Response in Virginia | Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Human Trafficking Response in Virginia Learn to Identify and Report Human Trafficking Human Trafficking is happening in Virginia. Do you know the signs? Explore our website and take the Human Trafficking 101 e-module to learn more about human trafficking in Virginia. Take Course Here About the State Trafficking Response Team In 2019, the Code of Virginia § 9.1-116.5 established a State Trafficking Response Coordinator within the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. The primary purpose of this position is to coordinate statewide efforts to identify and respond to victims of human trafficking. The State Trafficking Response Team works closely with state and local agencies on initiatives to combat human trafficking and support survivors. The Team maintains a directory of service providers in Virginia and provides technical assistance to improve survivor support. E-learning, in-person courses, and educational materials are provided to promote strategies for education, training, and awareness of human trafficking. As it is enacted, the State Trafficking Response Team responds to additional legislation to support human trafficking prevention and response efforts in Virginia. How to Report Human Trafficking In the case of an emergency, call 911 or #77. Report concerns to the Virginia State Police human trafficking tip line by texting "VSP" followed by the tip to 847411 or submit a tip online here Report suspected trafficking of minors by calling the Virginia Child Protective Services (CPS) Hotline at 800-552-7096. Report suspected trafficking of adults age 60+ and incapacitated adults age 18+ by calling the Virginia Adult Protective Services (APS) Hotline at 888-832-3858. The National Human Trafficking Hotline provides support to victims and survivors 24/7. Call 888-373-7888, text 233733, or chat with an advocate online here Virginia Victim Assistance Network (VVAN) operates a human trafficking i nfoline to provide resources to victims and survivors. Call or text 833-463-6448 or chat with an advocate online here Human Trafficking Response in Virginia Human Trafficking Human trafficking is a criminal activity in which people profit from the control and exploitation of others. The federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act recognizes two primary forms of human trafficking: sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Human trafficking can occur anywhere, including in the United States and in Virginia. It affects people of all ages, genders, races, citizenship statuses, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Human trafficking is a unique crime, and one that is often hard to identify, investigate, and prosecute. Human trafficking often occurs in conjunction with other crimes, which may mask the trafficking, making it difficult to recognize. Victims of human trafficking may be unwilling or afraid to cooperate with first responders, law enforcement, and victim advocates. Sex Trafficking In Virginia, sex trafficking is defined as soliciting, inviting, recruiting, encouraging, or otherwise causing or attempting to cause a person to engage in commercial sex with the intent to receive money or other valuable thing or to assist another in receiving money or other valuable thing. Traffickers may use force, threat, coercion, fraud, and/or drug addiction to control victims of sex trafficking. It is important to note that money is not always exchanged. Other valuable things exchanged for commercial sex may include, but are not limited to, housing, food, drugs, etc. Labor Trafficking Labor trafficking occurs when someone obtains the labor or services of a person through force, intimidation, or deception. Intimidation may include: destroying, concealing, confiscating, withholding, or threatening to withhold a passport, immigration document, or other government identification; threatening to report as being illegally present in the United States; threatening to separate from family; or threatening to harm a family member. Victims provide cheap or free labor or services for traffickers, often in inhumane conditions. Common industries for labor trafficking are: agriculture, construction, domestic work, hospitality, landscaping, manufacturing, and massage. Smuggling It is important to distinguish human smuggling and human trafficking as the two are often confused. Human smuggling involves illegally transporting a person across an international border. Human trafficking does not require any movement or travel. Victims can be trafficked within their home country or even their hometown. To learn more about human trafficking, complete the free Human Trafficking 101 e-learning module located under the 'Education, Training & Awareness' tab below. In accordance with the Code of Virginia § 9.1-116.5 , the State Trafficking Response Team maintains a list of programs that provide treatment or specialized services to victims and survivors of human trafficking. Click HERE to visit the Human Trafficking Resource Directory webpage. E-Learning Human Trafficking 101 Human Trafficking Awareness Training for Hotels Human Trafficking Awareness Training for Colleges Human Trafficking Training for Parks and Recreation In-Person Human Trafficking Identification for Criminal Justice and First Responders Human Trafficking Investigation and Prosecution Sexual Exploitation Treatment and Training Services (SETTS) Education and Awareness Materials Training for Healthcare Professionals 2025 Approved Legislation § 9.1-116.5 Human Trafficking Response Coordinator; name change (HB 1734) Chapter 19.4 Issuance of writ of vacatur for victims of human trafficking (HB 2393 & SB 1460) § 16.1-228 Child in need of services; definition amended (HB 2260) § 4.1-203.2 Human trafficking training for ABC licensees and employees (HB 2033) § 18.2-59.1 Sexual extortion; penalty (HB 1998) § 55.1-1236 Early termination of rental agreements by victims (SB 884) § 18.2-67.9 Testimony by child victims and witnesses (HB 1728) 2024 Approved Legislation § 15.2-1627.6 Coordination of multidisciplinary response to human trafficking (HB 581) § 18.2-47 Abduction and kidnapping defined; forced labor; punishment (HB 633) § 9.1-141 Powers of Board relating to private security services business (HB 203) § 63.2-1506.1 Human trafficking assessments by local departments (SB 12) § 16.1-269.1 Trial in circuit court; preliminary hearing; direct indictment; remand (HB 268) § 16.1-269.2 Admissibility of statement; investigation and report; bail (HB 268) § 16.1-272 Power of circuit court over juvenile offender (HB 268) Virginia Trafficking Related Code Sections - Comprehensive Throughout Virginia, local and regional collaboratives, task forces, and workgroups operate to improve the human trafficking response in their communities. Please contact us to have your group listed. To connect with your local human trafficking multidisciplinary team (MDT), contact your Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Collaborative / Task Force / Workgroup Localities Served Point of Contact Contact Information Central Virginia Anti-Human Trafficking Collaborative Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, Orange Miriam Mae Furr, MD cvahtcollaborative@gmail.com Fauquier Anti-Sex Trafficking Alliance (FASTA) Fauquier and Surrounding Areas Amelia Stansell amelia@unstoppablefutures.com FASTA Facebook Page Greater Prince William Human Trafficking Task Force (GPWHTTF) Prince William County Rachel Taylor rtaylor@pwcgov.org Hampton Roads Human Trafficking Task Force (HRHTTF) All Hampton Localities HRHTTF Website HRHTTF Speaker Request Loudoun County Youth Trafficking Prevention Task Force Loudoun County Lynchburg Area Human Trafficking Collaborative (LHTC) Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell, Lynchburg Lisa Wade Lisa.Wade@djj.virginia.gov Northern Virginia (NOVA) Human Trafficking Collaborative Northern Virginia Christin Oesterling coesterling@arlingtonva.us Richmond Regional Human Trafficking Collaborative Central Virginia Bonnie Price Bonnie_Price@bshsi.org Southwest Virginia Trafficking Collaborative Southwest Virginia Trafficking Response Coordinator Annual Reports 2025 Annual Report 2024 Annual Report 2023 Annual Report 2022 Annual Report 2021 Annual Report Additional Publications The State of Human Trafficking in Virginia (2019) Five Year Status Report (2018) State Resources Virginia Department of Labor and Industry Virginia Department of Social Services Office of the Attorney General Virginia State Police National Resources U.S. Department of Homeland Security National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Office on Trafficking in Persons Office for Victims of Crime Polaris To reach the DCJS State Trafficking Response Team: ht@dcjs.virginia.gov For human trafficking college training related inquiries: collegetraining@dcjs.virginia.gov For human trafficking hotel training related inquiries: hoteltraining@dcjs.virginia.gov Join the DCJS human trafficking mailing list: Subscribe here! 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