Statistics for this hidden crime are hard to come by, but according to the Department of Justice, human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal activities in the world (White House Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, 2016). For many of these victims, the internet is playing an increasing role in their victimization. In a study conducted by Thorn, a nonprofit created to develop technology to fight child sex trafficking, out of 260 survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking, 55% of them met their trafficker via text, website, or app. Also, of the 260 survivors, 75% of them were advertised online (Thorn, 2018).

TRAFFICKING STARTS HERE IS A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE SPONSORED BY THE FORT WORTH POLICE DEPARTMENT’S TARRANT COUNTY 5 STONES TASKFORCE.