Human Trafficking

Anti-Trafficking Programs

Confirmation Program for Human Trafficking Survivors

DCJS, in consultation with the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), receives and reviews referrals submitted on behalf of trafficked individuals.

Once DCJS confirms that an individual has been trafficked, OTDA refers that person to relevant services and supports.

Referrals may only be submitted by law enforcement agencies, including district attorney’s offices, and established social or legal services providers.

New York State Human Trafficking Referral

NYS Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking (ITF)

DCJS co-chairs the NYS Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking (ITF), a collaborative task force comprised of state agencies and other stakeholders.

More information about the ITF can be found here: Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking | OTDA.

Law Enforcement

DCJS regularly provides training and technical assistance to law enforcement regarding human trafficking.

Please contact [email protected] for training requests or questions regarding the confirmation program for human trafficking survivors.
The NYS Municipal Police Training Council Human Trafficking Model Policy provides guidance to law enforcement agencies on recognizing, communicating with, and assisting human trafficking victims.

Lodging Facilities Training Standards

An approved human trafficking recognition training program utilized by a lodging facility must address the following topics, at a minimum:

The nature of human trafficking (labor and sex);
How human trafficking is defined in law;
How to identify trafficked persons; and
Who to contact, such as the National Human Trafficking Hotline, which connects survivors of human trafficking to:
- Relief and recovery options, and
- Social and legal services

Lodging facilities that utilize established trainings on human trafficking are encouraged to verify, with their trainers, that the training meets the minimum requirements of General Business Law section 205.

The ITF Understanding Human Trafficking training may be used to meet this requirement.

About Human Trafficking

Types of Human Trafficking

Sex trafficking occurs when an individual, using force, fraud, or coercion, compels another to engage in a sex act in exchange for money or something of value.

IMPORTANT: Minors under the age of 18 can be sex trafficked without force, fraud, or coercion.

Labor trafficking occurs when an individual, using force, fraud, or coercion, compels another to perform labor.

Human trafficking is a crime under state and federal law.

Misconceptions about Human Trafficking

There are many “myths” about human trafficking, including:

Myth: Sex trafficking only occurs to teenagers and young adults.

Fact: Human trafficking occurs to people of all ages, though there are certain factors that may make someone more vulnerable to exploitation (e.g., age, disability, discrimination, poverty, lack of immigration status, unstable housing).

Myth: Someone who is being paid to perform labor cannot be labor trafficked.

Fact: Labor trafficking occurs when someone uses force, fraud, or coercion to compel another to perform labor, regardless of whether the worker is paid or not. Underpayment or inconsistent payment can be a sign of labor exploitation and—if force, fraud, or coercion is present—labor trafficking.

Myth: A person who performs sex acts or labor “willingly” can never be trafficked.

Fact: Human trafficking is complex, and acts that may start out as voluntary (or appear to be voluntary) can become involuntary due to force, fraud, or coercion.

More Information

Find more information on human trafficking at New York at the Office of Temporary Disability Assistance.