Human and sex trafficking violate the rights of the reported 20 to 29 million people in the world that are living in servitude and the 17,000 people in the United States that are trafficked annually. The domestic and international laws against trafficking are harsh but haven’t stopped this social justice and public health issue.
The personal injury attorneys at Console & Associates, P.C. in New Jersey are here to help any victims of sex and human trafficking learn more about their rights and help them deal with the aftermath of such a traumatic ordeal. Call us and schedule a free consultation with our human and sex trafficking attorneys so that we can discuss what kind of representation you need and help you figure out what your options are.
“Human trafficking is a $150-billion-a-year criminal industry…” Human trafficking is a criminal industry that’s worth $150 billion a year. The term “trafficking” implies that the victim will be moved, but that is not a requirement to be considered a trafficking victim. In fact, most of the time, it happens close to home.
According to the United Nations, there are “three core elements [to human trafficking]: the act, the means, the purpose.” The trafficker must either transport, recruit, harbor, receive, or transfer using one or more of the following methods, including deception, force, coercion, etc., and the purpose must be exploitation. The US Department of Justice expands on that by saying that any minor used for commercial sex is human trafficking, even if no coercion, fraud, or force was used.
Human traffickers are known to target people of certain demographics, like marginalized communities. While that’s true, any individual, regardless of sex, race, citizenship status, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and age, can be affected by these crimes.
Sex trafficking schemes can be multi-tiered, organized operations with many people involved at different levels, or they can be one person working alone, like a pimp. Though it is assumed that all human traffickers are male, that’s not correct. There have been women prosecuted for their trafficking crimes as well. Some common positions involved in human trafficking organizations are:
Smugglers: They are the ones responsible for recruiting and moving victims around within a country or in and out of countries. They’re not high up in the organization.
Labor Contractors: Labor contractors are the individuals who maintain direct control over the victims.
Employers: Human trafficking victims are often used for slave labor. Employers are the ones who “employ” them. This can include a company that is using them for forced labor in factories or homeowners who use them as housekeepers. Employers might think that if they use middlemen and are not directly involved in trafficking a victim, they will not be held liable.
It’s not always easy to know who to sue in these schemes for many reasons, such as not being able to identify who exactly is involved, like in the case of a smuggler, or not being able to satisfy a judgment. That’s why the goal is to go after those largely responsible to try to dismantle the operation and hold them financially liable.
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The aftermath of being trafficked can be unpredictable. Most victims will have gone through physical, emotional, and psychological anguish. It is expected that there will be tremendous lasting effects and that individuals Who have experienced this level of trauma will express doubts and fear of pursuing a lawsuit against those who victimized them. There are things that attorneys can do to protect their clients from the threats of traffickers and help them overcome those fears and doubts, such as:
When there is a sex trafficking claim, it isn’t just the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003 (TVPRA) that is involved. There are many other US laws that come into effect as a result of trafficking, like forced labor laws and employment laws at the state and federal levels.
If you or a loved one were a victim of human or sex trafficking, you may have a legal claim against your traffickers. At the law firm of Console & Associates, P.C., we have more than 25 years of experience helping victims pursue the justice they deserve. Our attorneys understand that bringing a sex trafficking case may not be something that you look forward to doing, as nobody in your position would want to relive past experiences. However, through diligent investigation and aggressive negotiation, many cases are settled without the need to go through a trial. To learn more about your options, reach out to Console & Associates, P.C., to schedule a free consultation today. You can reach us at 866-778-5500 or through our secure online contact form.
We won’t pressure you to bring a case, but we will answer your questions and provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for yourself and your family. If you decide to bring a personal injury claim with Console & Associates, P.C., you won’t pay for our legal representation unless we can recover compensation on your behalf. That’s part of the “No Fee Promise” we make to each and every client.
