Frequently Asked Questions & Facts

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Facts About Human Trafficking in the US

Human trafficking, also known as modern-day slavery, is alive and well in the United States. Every year, millions of people in the world, including in the U.S., are bought and sold for the purposes of forced labor or sexual exploitation. It can happen to any demographic, any gender, any race or nationality.

Information You’ll Find Below

Human trafficking, akin to modern-day slavery, persists in the United States, casting a shadow over the lives of millions globally, including within our borders. Each year, individuals are bought and sold, subjected to forced labor or sexual exploitation. This abhorrent practice transcends demographics, gender, race, or nationality.

What You'll Discover Below:

The human trafficking facts align with years of careful observation, shedding light on the persistent nature of this issue. Despite the unsettling nature of these facts, it's crucial to raise awareness and inspire action. Every piece of information presented here aims to empower individuals to recognize potential signs of exploitation and contribute to the fight against human trafficking.

Why It Matters:

If just one person gains awareness of critical human trafficking facts they didn't know before, they may become a crucial link in identifying warning signs of exploitation. This ripple effect of awareness can make every effort to combat human trafficking worthwhile.

Understanding the prevalence and forms of human trafficking.
Recognizing warning signs to identify potential exploitation.
Learning about ongoing efforts and initiatives to combat human trafficking.

Your engagement with this information is not only an opportunity to educate yourself but also a step toward building a community that stands united against human trafficking. Together, let's transform awareness into action and strive for a world free from the chains of exploitation.

We encourage you to take a look at the facts about human trafficking below. Specifically, you’ll find information regarding human trafficking:

https://www.state.gov/humantrafficking-about-human-trafficking/#:~:text=This%20report%20also%20estimates%20that,an%20estimate%20for%20forced%20marriage.

https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/human-trafficking-data-collection-activities-2022

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/additional-data-collections/human-trafficking

https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/what-human-trafficking

Click on any of the links above so you can be taken directly to the human trafficking facts and statistics so that you learn more.

Sex Trafficking in the US

Within the United States, the harsh reality of sexual slavery victimizes an estimated 15,000 to 50,000 women and children annually, although the exact number is challenging to pinpoint due to the covert nature of this crime. Divergent studies add complexity to these estimations, with figures ranging from 240,000 to 325,000 according to the Department of Health and Human Services, and 100,000 to 300,000 as per a report from the University of Pennsylvania.

Understanding the Methods of Trafficking:

Women and children fall prey to various trafficking methods, with males occasionally involved but more commonly found in labor markets. The avenues of exploitation include:

Pimp-controlled trafficking, where a single individual exerts physical, psychological, or emotional control over the victim.
Gang trafficking, involving multiple perpetrators who may abuse or prostitute the victim.
Survival sex, where victims feel compelled to perform sex acts as a means of survival, believing escape is impossible.

At our nonprofit, we are committed to shedding light on these distressing realities, raising awareness, and tirelessly working towards a future where exploitation is eradicated. Together, we can break the chains that bind individuals and pave the way for a world free from the horrors of sexual slavery.

Understanding Domestic Violence in Wisconsin

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence encompasses willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and other abusive behaviors within a systematic pattern of power and control. It is perpetuated by one intimate partner against another, involving physical violence, sexual violence, threats, economic, and emotional/psychological abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence vary dramatically.

Domestic Violence in Wisconsin: Key Statistics

36.3% of Wisconsin women and 32.1% of Wisconsin men experience intimate partner physical violence, rape, and/or stalking in their lifetimes.
In 2018, Wisconsin law enforcement reported 30,999 incidents of domestic violence, leading to 21,960 arrests. Numerous incidents went unreported.
In 2019, Wisconsin witnessed 52 domestic partner homicides, with 56% involving firearms.
On a single day in 2020, 55% of Wisconsin's domestic violence programs served 1,157 victims, with 234 service requests unmet due to resource limitations.
Wisconsin's hotlines at these programs received one call every three minutes on the same day.

Did You Know?

1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the U.S. have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.
In 2018, domestic violence accounted for 20% of all violent crime.
Abusers' access to firearms increases the risk of intimate partner femicide by approximately 1,000%.

Domestic Violence-Related Firearms Laws in Wisconsin

Respondents to final protective orders, including dating partners, are prohibited from possessing firearms and must relinquish them within 48 hours.
Although Wisconsin statute does not currently prohibit abusers subject to ex parte protective orders from possessing firearms, the court is authorized to order any 'appropriate remedy' to protect the petitioner.
Wisconsin could strengthen its laws by prohibiting domestic violence misdemeanants, including dating partners and stalking misdemeanants, from purchasing or possessing firearms and requiring relinquishment. Additionally, prohibiting respondents to final protective orders from purchasing firearms is a proposed enhancement.

Additional Sources for Statistics on Domestic Violence

https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs-fact-sheet-2014.pdf

https://bjs.ojp.gov

National Statistics

It's a systematic exertion of power and control by one intimate partner against another, encompassing physical, sexual, economic, and emotional/psychological abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence vary significantly.

Key Facts:

More than 10 million adults experience domestic violence annually in the United States.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men face sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime.
1 in 5 female victims and 1 in 20 male victims need medical care, with female victims sustaining injuries three times more often.
From 2016 to 2018, intimate partner violence victimizations in the United States increased by 42%.
Domestic violence hotlines nationwide receive over 19,000 calls daily.
An abuser's access to a firearm increases the risk of intimate partner femicide by 400%.
In 2018, partner violence accounted for 20% of all violent crime.
Intimate partner violence is most common against women between the ages of 18-24.
19% of intimate partner violence involves a weapon.

Impact:

Domestic violence is pervasive across all communities, impacting individuals regardless of age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. It often combines physical violence with emotionally abusive and controlling behavior, forming a larger pattern of dominance. The consequences of domestic violence extend beyond physical injury, causing psychological trauma and, tragically, even death. These devastating effects can span generations, leaving an enduring impact.

If you are in crisis, contact The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)