How big of a problem is human trafficking in the United States? It's hard to say because state and local law enforcement records likely reflect less than 10 percent of trafficking victims in the region, according to new research with Amy Farrella Northeastern University professor who studies human trafficking.
Farrell and her colleagues encountered some glaring problems in the structure of crime reporting itself, the most immediate of which, Farrell says, is that state and local police often lack the specialized training needed to detect human trafficking. when they see her.
If they do, it can be difficult to convince a trafficking victim to cooperate with a police investigation when such a victim is primarily concerned with more immediate needs, Farrell says.
