Knowing the Signs of Human Trafficking — and Your Role
Your safety and the safety of victims depends on following the proper procedure in a trafficking situation.
Kedrick Nettleton, Community Engagement Manager
We at The Spring often get calls from individuals in our community who suspect that they’ve uncovered a trafficking situation or encountered a possible victim. These people call us wanting information on next steps, and sometimes even ask to play a part in what they imagine the “rescue mission” to be — a scene out of the movies where the bad guys are apprehended by force and victims are recovered.
The fact of the matter is that life isn’t a movie, and the reality of human trafficking in Oklahoma can look very different from how it’s portrayed on the big screen. As we’ve written before, the vast majority of cases we interact with involve personal or family relationships; it’s not about abductions into white vans or scenes out of a Taken movie.
While it’s true that it’s important to be aware of the common signs of human trafficking, it’s just as important to know the proper procedure to go through if you suspect someone is being victimized. Your safety and the safety of the victim can depend on it.
Know The Signs
Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step to identifying victims and saving lives, and many of these signs revolve around two words: coercion and control. Traffickers use dependence to keep victims in bondage. If a victim seems to be controlled by another person, is subject to unreasonable security measures to restrict movement, or lacks their own identification or legal documents, it’s worth asking more questions about the situation. Victims might also show signs of physical abuse, substance abuse, or mental health challenges, though this is not always the case.
It’s important to remember that every case is unique. Not all indicators listed above are present in every human trafficking situation, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking. Review all the common signs of trafficking here.
You Can Help Law Enforcement Save Time
Over the past two decades, law enforcement in Oklahoma has made great strides to improve their process for investigating and prosecuting human trafficking cases, and we at The Spring have been honored to play a small role in that. Our certified response professionals actively work with the Tulsa Police Department’s Human Trafficking and Vice Unit to provide victim advocacy during operations, and we’ve seen first-hand how important good civilian tips can be in rescuing victims.
The key word is good. Officers are obliged to investigate all tips, and a lot of time can be wasted by well-meaning people who don’t have an accurate picture of what trafficking looks like. Service providers like The Spring can act as a sounding board. If you suspect a trafficking situation, feel free to phone our advocates. Our experts can walk alongside you and help you determine the wisest course of action.
Life isn’t a Movie, and Safety is Paramount
As we wrote above, it’s not unheard of for us at The Spring to get a call from someone ready to take matters into their own hands in a suspected trafficking situation. We certainly understand the urge to be a part of anyone’s recovery from suffering, and we know that most individuals mean well. Still, our response is always the same: stop. The best course of action is always to contact the men and women in our Human Trafficking and Vice Unit. These officers are trained professionals who can make sure that a recovery operation goes smoothly, that victims are recovered, and that traffickers are apprehended and brought to justice. Leaving these operations to our trained officers is the best way for a victim to find their way to safety.
We’re grateful for supporters all over Oklahoma and beyond who care deeply for the survivors we serve, and we applaud everyone who takes time for the most vulnerable. If you're interested in a training for your church, place of work, or community group, email us. We’d love to share more about what you can do to help create communities free from abuse.