Texas is the first state in the country to make sex buying a felony
Over 30,000 people trained since 2016
Years in prison sentences for human traffickers since 2016
Human trafficking affects both adults and children, men and women, and people from all parts of Texas, the United States, and around the world.
There are four major types of trafficking:
Adult Sex Trafficking - Trafficking of adults for sex by force, fraud, or coercion in strip clubs, brothels, massage parlors, street prostitution, or internet prostitution.
Adult Labor Trafficking - Trafficking adults for labor by force, fraud, or coercion into industries, such as agriculture, food service, manufacturing, domestic servitude, or hospitality.
Child Sex Trafficking - Trafficking children, under the age of 18, by any means into the commercial sex industry.
Child Labor Trafficking - Trafficking children, under the age of 18, by force, fraud or coercion into industries such as agriculture, food service, manufacturing, domestic servitude, or hospitality.
Learn more about red flags for sex trafficking.
Learn more about red flags for labor trafficking.
Human trafficking happens all over Texas, not just at the border, not just in big cities, not just in rural areas. Texas consistently has the 2nd highest number of calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline every year.
The Attorney General’s Human Trafficking and Transnational/Organized Crime division assists law enforcement and prosecutors on human trafficking cases, pursues civil litigation against traffickers and businesses, assists victims with resources, engages the public through training, develops initiatives to enhance the state’s support and coordination of human trafficking efforts, and facilitates collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutors.
The OAG also presides over the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force and Coordinating Council. Established to increase collaborative efforts across the state, the Task Force and Coordinating Council bring together local, state, and federal agencies and nongovernmental partners to bring an end to human trafficking in Texas and address its impact.
Pay Attention
Pay close attention to the people in your neighborhood and community. Report behaviors that might be evidence of human trafficking. Call as soon as possible after you make the observations. The fresher the information, the more likely law enforcement can take action.
Don't Approach Traffickers
Human traffickers are some of the most violent offenders in Texas. Don't approach them yourself. Instead, contact law enforcement and allow them to respond.
Report suspicious activity:
In an emergency, dial 911.
To report suspected human trafficking in non-emergency situations, contact iWatchTexas at 844-643-2251 or www.iWatchTx.org. You can also report using the iWatchTX app:
To obtain services for a victim of human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or text 233733.