DOI: 10.3886/icpsr36348.v1
title: Identifying Effective Counter-Trafficking Programs and Practices in the United States, 2003-2012
title: Version 1

description: These data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.


After a decade of efforts to combat human trafficking in the United States through legislation, law enforcement, victim services, and public awareness, it was critical to begin to assess what legislative, legal, and civic responses have been most effective in achieving the desired outcome of reducing opportunities and instances of human trafficking. This study began to fill gaps in the understanding of effective anti-trafficking responses by evaluating three strategic platforms to combat human trafficking in the United States.

Researchers examined the effectiveness of state-level human trafficking legislation.
Investigators described how state human trafficking laws have been used to prosecute human trafficking offenders.
Researchers explored public opinion on human trafficking through a nationally representative survey containing embedded experiments.



The collection includes 2 Stata data files: (1) Effective Countertrafficking Law_Legislation Dataset.dta (n=500; 32 variables) and (2) Effective Countertrafficking_State Case Data-ICPSR.dta (n=479; 109 variables). Data from the public opinion survey are not available at this time.
description: The purposes of the study were to:

determine whether state adoption of various anti-trafficking legal provisions increases the identification, arrest, and prosecution of human trafficking suspects 
examine the effect of different legal processes and extra-legal factors in prosecutions of human trafficking cases



Additionally, the study sought to gauge what the public knows, thinks, and feels about human trafficking and uncover the mechanisms that make human trafficking a more salient issue for the general public, but these data are not part of the study collection at this time.
description: <strong>Effective Countertrafficking Law_Legislation Dataset.dta:</strong> All state human trafficking laws enacted between 2003 and 2012 were classified by statutory provisions grouped into three broad categories: state investment, civil remedies, and criminalization. Models were estimated predicting whether statutory provisions were associated with the arrest and prosecution of human trafficking offenders in each state in the years following enactment. To measure human trafficking arrest and prosecution outcomes researchers constructed a database of human trafficking suspects who were identified in open source information across all states from 2003 to 2012.


<strong>Effective Countertrafficking_State Case Data-ICPSR.dta:</strong> Based on data collected from a review of open source information on human trafficking suspects identified in each state, and a survey of states attorneys general about all known state human trafficking prosecutions, researchers developed a comprehensive list of human trafficking suspects who were arrested and prosecuted under a state human trafficking statute between 2003 and 2012. For each of these prosecuted suspects, researchers requested court records from the appropriate local court. Researchers secured the records for 479 defendants charged under a state human trafficking statute. All defendants' court records were coded to identify information about the nature of the criminal charge, the process of adjudicating the charge, and the case disposition.
description: The data file <strong>Effective Countertrafficking Law_Legislation Dataset.dta (n=500; 32 variables)</strong> includes variables such as the state, bill number, and year. There are also variables related to total arrests, prosecutions, and number of suspects. The data file also indicates whether the bill offers certain elements such as victim assistance, training, investigative tools, or restitution for victims. Additionally, there are variables regarding mandatory minimum and maximum sentences for sex trafficking of minors and adults, as well as for labor trafficking of minors and adults.


The data file <strong>Effective Countertrafficking_State Case Data-ICPSR.dta (n=479; 109 variables)</strong> includes general information regarding the case such as state, type of court, and case status. Race and gender for the defendant, judge, prosecutor, and defense attorney are also included. There are also dates of arrest, file charges, disposition, and sentencing. The bulk of the variables relate to counts, pleas, dispositions, and sentencing for crimes such as human trafficking for sex, human trafficking for labor, kidnapping, prostitution, pimping, or conducting a criminal enterprise.
description: None
description: Response Rates: Not Applicable
description: Presence of Common Scales: None
description: <strong>Effective Countertrafficking Law_Legislation Dataset.dta:</strong> Researchers classified all state human trafficking laws enacted between 2003 and 2012.


<strong>Effective Countertrafficking_State Case Data-ICPSR.dta:</strong> Based on data collected from an open-source search process and a survey of states attorneys general about all known state human trafficking prosecutions, researchers identified 616 suspects who were potentially prosecuted under a state human trafficking statute. For each of these suspects, researchers requested court records from the appropriate local court. Researchers secured the records for 479 of identified suspects.
description: Datasets: 
DS1: Identifying Effective Counter-Trafficking Programs and Practices in the United States, 2003-2012
description: <strong>Effective Countertrafficking Law_Legislation Dataset.dta:</strong> state-level governments within the United States


<strong>Effective Countertrafficking_State Case Data-ICPSR.dta:</strong> defendants charged under state human trafficking statutes
. Smallest Geographic Unit: <strong>Effective Countertrafficking Law_Legislation Dataset.dta:</strong> state - <strong>Effective Countertrafficking_State Case Data-ICPSR.dta:</strong> county
description: record abstractsThese data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.Public opinion survey data are not currently available for analysis.