2017
This fact sheet presents findings from the federal Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) that assessed State efforts to collect data on human trafficking and to assist victims of trafficking to inform the HHS Human Trafficking Data Collection Project. The project examines current data collection practices, data standards, and technologies used for human trafficking data collection for the purposes of understanding human trafficking victimization and service needs. OTIP assessed whether a State had legislation mandating human trafficking data collection; whether there was a State plan to collect the data; and whether the State was mandated to provide direct services to victims of trafficking. States fell within one of four categories: States with legislation or a plan to collect human trafficking data and provide services to victims; States that only have legislation or a plan to collect human trafficking data; States that only have legislation on providing services to victims of trafficking; or States with no legislation or plan to collect trafficking data or provide services to victims. Findings indicate 19 States have legislation or a strategic plan to collect data on human trafficking and to provide services to victims of trafficking, an additional 11 States have only legislation or a plan to collect trafficking data, and 9 States have only legislation on providing services to victims. States in each category are listed and maps identify States with legislation or a plan to collect data on human trafficking, and States with legislative mandates to provide services for victims of human trafficking.