Human Trafficking
Human trafficking robs victims of their freedom and dignity. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland works with federal, state, and local agencies and nonprofit organizations, in conjunction with the Maryland's Human Trafficking Task Force (MHTTF), and with the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, to recover human trafficking victims and prosecute the traffickers.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes a variety of human trafficking cases including child sex trafficking; sex trafficking of adults by force, fraud or coercion; and labor trafficking cases. Human trafficking cases originate from all parts of Maryland from the Eastern Shore to central Maryland, including Baltimore, to southern Maryland, including Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties, as well as locations outside of Maryland. These cases include one-defendant cases to multi-defendant conspiracies and even some commercial sex customers. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also vigorously pursues restitution for human trafficking victims.
To see press releases from representative cases, please go to the News tab, and then filter by topic “Civil Rights”, and subtopic “Human Trafficking”.
- Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force
The MHTTF was formed in 2007 as an umbrella organization of local, state and federal agencies and private organizations designed to work collaboratively to identify and restore victims of human trafficking while investigating and prosecuting offenders. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the task force serves to coordinate activities, develop policy, and implement strategic plans to combat human trafficking in the State of Maryland. The MHTTF maintains seven active sub-committees: Law Enforcement, Victim Services, Training, Public Outreach, Grants, Labor Trafficking and Legislative.
The MHTTF aims to create a heightened law enforcement and victim service presence in the community. The MHTTF’s law enforcement efforts include providing training for law enforcement officers, and members of the MHTTF Law Enforcement sub-committee establish operations to identify victims and traffickers. We also seek to deter human trafficking through outreach to persons who might be victimized by traffickers.
The Task Force attacks the problem of human trafficking on numerous fronts, using the various expertise of its members through seven different committees. For more information, visit the MHTTF website at http://www.mdhumantrafficking.org/
To report suspected human trafficking, please contact one of these investigative agencies:
FBI or call 410-265-8080
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) or call (410) 962-2620
For more information on human trafficking, please contact:
http://www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/national-human-trafficking-hotline/the-nhtrc/overview
https://www.state.gov/20-ways-you-can-help-fight-human-trafficking/
https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/human-trafficking-americas-schools
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/trauma-toolkit/victims-human-trafficking
https://www.htlegalcenter.org/
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/training/soar-health-and-wellness-training
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChmuHXyYcpUAJFxKSrsfdAg (Office for Victims of Crime)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDuKXs-qp_GdY5fy1Yj0sPdLBRaGyRXkI (Faces of Human Trafficking—Office for the Victims of Crime).