To report a tip or to get help, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888
What is Sex Trafficking?
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The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age.
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Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
What is Labor Trafficking?
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The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.​
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Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
Sex Trafficking of Minors
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Unlike with adults, inducing a minor (under age 18) into commercial sex is considered human trafficking regardless of the presence of force, fraud or coercion.
A minor cannot legally consent to sex, and therefore there is no such thing as child commercial sex workers.
The Action-Means-Purpose (AMP) Model
Human trafficking occurs when a perpetrator, often referred to as a trafficker, takes an Action, and then employs the Means of force, fraud or coercion for the Purpose of compelling the victim to provide commercial sex acts or labor or services.
To be defined as human trafficking, all three must occur.
Action
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Induces
Recruits
Harbors
Transports
Provides
Obtains
Means
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Force
Fraud
Coercion
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*for minors, all commercial sex is human trafficking regardless of means.
Purpose
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Commercial Sex
(Sex Trafficking)
or
Labor/Services
(Labor Trafficking)
Source: Polaris Project, http://polarisproject.org/how-human-trafficking-happens/
​Why is Human Trafficking an issue on the California Central Coast?
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“Our Central Coast has been identified as a natural transit corridor for trafficking activity between major metropolitan areas to the south and north. Santa Barbara County, a tourist attraction with conference venues, a transitory population, and migrant labor makes it vulnerable to trafficking activity as well.” -Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office​​
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The Santa Barbara County Human Trafficking Task Force works to assess the scope of the problem locally, offer access to training opportunities, develop protocols and improve law enforcement and victim service response. The task force is comprised of state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as non-profit and faith-based organizations. Together they are dedicated to a victim-centered approach to combat the commercial sexual exploitation and labor trafficking of human beings. Visit the Task Force website: https://www.countyofsb.org/da/humantrafficking.html​​
Trusted Sources of Human Trafficking Information​
NATIONAL
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Polaris Project: https://polarisproject.org/human-trafficking
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Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign: https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/what-human-trafficking
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Shared Hope International: https://sharedhope.org/
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LOCAL
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Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office: https://www.countyofsb.org/da
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Santa Barbara County Sheriff: https://www.sbsheriff.org/human-trafficking/