SCROLL: The following dramatized scenario depicts indicators of human trafficking,
a crime committed when a trafficker uses force, fraud or coercion
to compel another person to work for little or no wages or
to commit acts of commercial sex. Human trafficking victims are often invisible
because we do not recognize indicators of human trafficking.
The following scenario shows actions and behaviors that might occur in a school.
Pay attention, because identifying signs of human trafficking and reporting a tip
may save a life.
TANYA: So how did you move from working truck stops to recruiting under aged
girls from your own high school?
ERICKA: You don't say no to Alex. If you did, you got a beating.
Alex needed somebody inside the school. And Besides, it kept me from having to
have sex with all those men. He promised to let me out if I got someone else in.
We can see that didn't happen.
[FLASHBACK]
MS SPENCER: Put it away.
[Ericka receives a text from Alex]
ALEX: Get me two more girls for tonight.
ERICKA: Okay, Ericka, game on. Let's do this.
[Bell rings]
LINA: Oh, there’s Josh.
COURTNEY: Is he coming?
LINA: I don’t even know but I cannot wait until my party, okay? But guys,
we have to keep it on the DL because we don't want any losers crashing it.
GIRL: No
HAILEY: Wow, they are so mean.
ABBY: I know, right?
ERICKA: Hey! Don't let those fools bother you. In fact, I'm throwing my own party
this weekend and it's going to be way more turnt up. You two ought to come!
HAILEY: Uh sure, Ericka.
ABBY: Yeah, that would be awesome.
HAILEY: Wow, I really like your boots.
ERICKA : Thanks. My man gave ‘em to me. I get all kinds of nice things from him.
What about you two? Gettin’ any? Cool stuff, I mean.
HAILEY: Oh, well, I don’t really have a boyfriend. I mean, not right now.
ABBY: Well, if you haven’t noticed, there's not that many studs around here.
ERICKA: True, but but a little “X” cam make anyone look good. C’mon!
Don't you want a little bling? Designer clothes? The guys at this party will
pay big for a little – you know – a little uh-huh.
ABBY: Wait, you mean, they just give you the money?
HAILEY: Abby! I don’t know.
ERICKA: Seriously? Don't tell me you didn't hook-up with your last two
boyfriends, ‘cause to hear them tell it, that just ain't true. Look, come to
my party. You don’t want to get down with anyone, that's cool. More money for us.
ABBY: Hailey c'mon what’s your problem?
HAILEY: I don’t want to.
ABBY: Why? We need to go.
HAILEY: No.
ABBY: C'mon, it could be a lot of fun.
HAILEY: No it won't.
ABBY: You said so yourself. You're not a virgin. And you've already had sex,
and it was okay. And c'mon, I need the money.
HAILEY: But who are these guys Ericka said would be there?
ABBY: Who cares! At least they’re not high school guys walking around here.
HAILEY: Okay, yeah, but I—I don’t know.
ABBY: Well, you know what? I’m going, whether you go or not.
MS. SPENCER: Hailey, do you have a second?
I'm working on the ballroom scene for the spring show, on the costumes
and the hair design. What do you think?
[Hailey shrugs]
MS. SPENCER: Hailey, is everything okay?
HAILEY: Well, can I ask you something?
Wait, never mind. I'm sorry. Never mind.
MS. SPENCER: No, sure. Please, sit down. You can talk to me. Please, sit down.
HAILEY: Well, Ericka Mitchell, she invited me to this party.
MS. SPENCER: So you’re not sure that you want to go?
HAILEY: I don’t know. There’s going to be older guys there, and Abby,
she’s going for the money, and I don’t want her to go by herself. I-I don't know.
MS. SPENCER: Eugene, can I talk to you for a second?
SRO: Yeah, sure.
MS. SPENCER: I’ve noticed something about one of our students. She's an older
student. She’s texting whenever she can. She’s skipping classes, wearing expensive
clothes, and now she’s trying to get a younger student to go to a party
with older men.
[Meanwhile, Ericka is texting Alex]
ERICKA: Got you your girls. Please, can I be done?
ALEX: No! I own you now.
CARD: Human Trafficking occurs when one uses force, fraud or coercion to compel
another person to work for little or no wages or commit acts of commercial sex.
School Resource Officers (SROs) play a very important role in detecting human
trafficking. If you are an SRO, notify your supervisor immediately upon learning
about possible human trafficking indicators. Another option is to call the
ICE Tip Line, 1-866-347-2423.
CARD 2: This video presented some indicators of a victim of human
trafficking, including: being pressured to use drugs in order to engage in risky
activities; flaunting expensive possessions that are unusual for a
young person to own; routinely missing classes, using multiple cellphones,
and lack of respect for authority.
As shown in the video, students may be recruited into sex trafficking on school
campuses by other students. Recruiters may target unpopular or marginalized
students, often by falsely promising a tempting opportunity.
CARD 3: Other common indicators of human trafficking, not shown in the video, may
include: a student dating a much older person; exhibiting bruises or other signs
of physical harm; being in the company of someone seeming to control the situation;
living in unsuitable or unstable conditions, or lacking personal
possessions; being subject to restrictions on communications or movement; being
threatened with deportation or law enforcement action. Remember, both victims
and perpetrators of human trafficking can be any gender, race,
or socioeconomic class.
CARD 4: If you see any indicators of human trafficking, report a tip.
To notify Federal law enforcement, call the ICE-Homeland Security Investigations
Tip Line at 866-374-2423. The Tip Line is toll free in U.S. and Canada, and
available twenty-four hours a day.
To speak confidentially with a non-governmental organization, call
the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 888-373-7888.
In an emergency situation, call 9-1-1 or contact local authorities.