DOI: 10.3886/icpsr37451.v1
title: Prosecuting Trafficking in Persons Cases: An Analysis of Local Strategies and Approaches, United States, 2009-2018
title: Version 1

description: This project examined practices and initiatives undertaken by prosecutors across the United States to address trafficking in persons (TIP) in order to learn about TIP case identification and case building; when jurisdictions prosecute utilizing their state's TIP statute or alternative charges; and how prosecutors approach victim identification, serving victims, and increasing convictions and penalties for traffickers and buyers. It also sought to draw lessons learned that other jurisdictions can use to begin this work or increase their capacity and effectiveness, regardless of size or location. This project was a partnership between the Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA) and the National District Attorney's Association (NDAA) and consisted of two phases. Phase I was a national survey of prosecutors and Phase II was a series of four case studies in jurisdictions undertaking anti-TIP initiatives. The results of the survey are intended to provide a national snapshot of trends in local TIP prosecutions and the use of state-level TIP statutes by local prosecutors. It serves as a ten-year update to, and expansion of, previous research on local prosecutorial approaches to trafficking that had used data on cases prosecuted through 2008.
description: The results of the survey are intended to provide a national snapshot of trends in local TIP prosecutions and the use of state-level TIP statutes by local prosecutors. It serves as a ten-year update to, and expansion of, previous research on local prosecutorial approaches to trafficking that had used data on cases prosecuted through 2008.
description: The survey was constructed to build upon previous prosecutor surveys covering human trafficking. The prosecutors chosen to receive this survey came from NDAA's membership, which includes 2,386 prosecutors across all states and the District of Colombia. According to NDAA leadership, there are currently about 2,500 prosecutors in the U.S., so the sampling frame covered the vast majority. The survey was implemented by email using SurveyMonkey, and ran from June 14, 2017 through August 31, 2017.
description: Response Rates: The response rate for this survey was 8 percent, with 199 full and partial responses. Seventy respondents voluntarily supplied their case statistics.
description: Datasets: DS0: Study-Level Files DS1: DANY Data DS2: DANY Perpetrator Data DS3: DANY Victim Data DS4: Miami Case Data DS5: Miami Perpetrator Data DS6: Miami Victim Data DS7: St Paul Case Data DS8: St Paul Victim-Perpetrator Individual Level Data DS9: San Diego Case File Data DS10: San Diego Perpetrator Info Data DS11: San Diego Victim Info Data DS12: TIP National Survey Total Sample Data DS13: TIP National Survey Stat Sample Data
description: face-to-face interview
description: mail questionnaire
description: web-based survey
description: Universe was the 2,386 prosecutors that are members of NDAA. There are an estimated 2,500 or so prosecutors in the U.S. Smallest Geographic Unit: City
description: All 2,386 prosecutor members of the National District Attorney's Association were requested to complete the survey. All full and partial responses received were included for analysis.