Law enforcement training on child trafficking: Engaging all stakeholders

Abstract

Since the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act in 2000, there have been rapid changes in the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems’ ability to identify, investigate, and prosecute cases of human trafficking and work effectively with survivors. Law enforcement officers are often the first to encounter victims, and their training in this area is critical. While trainings have expanded, they are still missing in many jurisdictions and are understudied. The impact of a 2-day, interdisciplinary, skill-based, and victim-centred child trafficking in-service training is evaluated via regression analysis of pre–post surveys with 187 participants. Results indicate that the training significantly improved both perceived trafficking-related knowledge and self-efficacy. Implications for policing and research include expanding and deepening skill-focussed interdisciplinary child sex trafficking training for law enforcement personnel that engages multiple stakeholders, including trafficking survivors.