For nearly two decades, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has been more than a lifeline for survivors and a resource for community members. It has been a trusted partner to law enforcement — consistently transforming raw tips into actionable leads that drive investigations and bring traffickers to justice. At the same time, it connects survivors, service providers, and community members with the support they need in real time.
This work across systems is a daily practice built on coordination, shared goals, and a 17-year track record of results.
A Record of Consistency — and Results
Since its inception in 2007, the Hotline has:
- Handled more than 463,000 signals — calls, texts, webforms, and emails.
- Identified 112,822 distinct trafficking cases and more than 218,000 victims.
- Referred nearly 32,000 reports of potential cases of human trafficking situations directly to local, state, and federal law enforcement, where required or requested.
Importantly, behind each of those referrals is a careful, collaborative process — one that reflects years of experience and collaboration with survivors, law enforcement, and community partners.
Out of the reports to law enforcement where the Hotline was informed of the outcome, 71% resulted in investigations being opened.
That’s not just a data point – it reflects years of shared priorities, cross-sector collaboration, and deep understanding of how to support survivors of these crimes and hold traffickers accountable.
A Track Record That Builds Trust
This kind of consistency doesn’t happen by accident. For 17 years, regardless of shifts in political climate, leadership, or public opinion, the Hotline has shown up every day to do what it was built to do:
- Support survivors and connect them with resources.
- Coordinate with law enforcement and community partners.
- Strengthen the national response to human trafficking.
That reliability is what builds trust — with survivors, law enforcement, and with allies in the fight to prevent and end human trafficking. And it’s that trust that turns into real outcomes: victims identified, investigations opened, services provided, and traffickers prosecuted.
In a field where coordination is hard-won and public confidence can shift, the Hotline’s role as a stable, responsive, and effective partner is not just valuable — it’s essential.
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Why Reports & Referrals Matter
- For Law Enforcement: When victims consent to law enforcement intervention through the Hotline, they are more likely to cooperate with an investigation — leading to stronger cases and more prosecutions.
- For Survivors: A trauma-informed approach ensures that law enforcement is engaged when it makes sense — when it leads to safety, services, and stability.
- For the Movement: Consistent, credible referrals create a shared infrastructure where communities, advocates, and law enforcement work hand-in-hand, instead of in silos.
Reports and referrals are backed by a robust infrastructure developed through years of coordination, relationship building, and shared problem-solving. As of early 2025, the Hotline maintains 1,681 active law enforcement contacts and 282 geographic- and topic-specific reporting protocols addressing situations like forced marriage, for example. And that’s just one part of the picture — the Hotline also partners with approximately 1,200 vetted service providers nationwide to connect survivors with safe housing, legal advocacy, medical care, and other critical resources.
These protocols ensure reports and referrals are routed accurately and effectively, reflecting the complexity of trafficking and the diversity of local, state, and federal response systems.
Proof in Collaboration
- State Attorneys General across the country have publicly credited Hotline referrals with helping build trafficking cases.
- Local task forces report that Hotline tips have sparked investigations that otherwise wouldn’t have started.
- Federal agencies like HHS and DOJ use Hotline data to inform national strategy, funding priorities, and prevention initiatives.
For example, the Hotline delivers ongoing training to all 911 dispatchers across nine regions in Texas. This three-part training series brings together local service providers, the FBI, and the Hotline to help dispatchers understand how and when the Hotline interacts with law enforcement and how dispatchers can engage with the Hotline to coordinate support for individuals in potential trafficking situations.
And in 2022 and 2023, the Hotline engaged with a variety of task forces in Texas, Delaware, Florida, California, and Indiana. This year, the Hotline has collaborated with the Human Trafficking in the Carolinas conference and the Broken Arrow Task Force in New Mexico.
The Persuasion Point
The National Human Trafficking Hotline isn’t just a reporting line — and it isn’t just a law enforcement partner. It’s a trusted, coordinated response hub that connects survivors, community members, and professionals with the right resources, including law enforcement, based on the nature of the situation.
For 17 years, the Hotline has demonstrated what it means to be a strong and steady collaborator: engaging law enforcement consistently, constructively, and in alignment with shared goals around public safety and justice.
Thousands of referrals.
Thousands of investigations.
Thousands of survivors identified.
This is what effective coordination looks like.
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