Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
Human trafficking is a heinous human rights violation, impacting as many as 40.3 million people around the globe (Global Slavery Index, 2018). In the United States of America (USA), the Trafficking Victims Protections Act of 2000 (TVPA), and its subsequent reauthorizations, comprise the bulk of the federal response to human trafficking. As a result, federal policies have received a lot of praise and scrutiny in the literature.
However, less is known about statewide legislative efforts to combat human trafficking. To fill this gap, the current study analyzes state human trafficking statutes through content analysis. Overall, state legislation could best be described as a hodge-podge of laws related to three themes: 1) conceptualizing human trafficking, 2) victim centeredness, and 3) perpetrator centeredness. Accordingly, several recommendations are made that would reduce inconsistency and increase implementation of evidence-based policy.
However, less is known about statewide legislative efforts to combat human trafficking. To fill this gap, the current study analyzes state human trafficking statutes through content analysis. Overall, state legislation could best be described as a hodge-podge of laws related to three themes: 1) conceptualizing human trafficking, 2) victim centeredness, and 3) perpetrator centeredness. Accordingly, several recommendations are made that would reduce inconsistency and increase implementation of evidence-based policy.
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