Trafficking Assessment
The caller explains the reason for reaching out and the Hotline Professional asks for clarifications as necessary to determine whether it appears likely that the situation is trafficking – that is, force, fraud or coercion is being used in this situation to make them provide either commercial sex or labor for the profit of someone else.
What if the situation is not trafficking?
If a situation does not appear to be trafficking but the Trafficking Hotline can connect the person with appropriate services to meet their needs they will do so. Many people seeking help may be facing some other kind of exploitation or danger.
Survivor-Centered Practice
The scope of questions asked is purposefully limited to only what is necessary to know to provide the help requested. While survivors may share more than that about their situation, they are never required to do so.
Calls are not recorded and notes are not taken verbatim. This practice recognizes that information shared related to traumatic situations or events may contain contradictions or lapses in memory. By not transcribing calls verbatim, the Trafficking Hotline ensures that such contradictions cannot be used to question the victim’s veracity in legal proceedings.
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