Hidden Crimes: Identification Of Victims

Identification of Victims

Identifications of victims is an issue service providers and law enforcement struggle with daily. Trafficking is very much a hidden crime, meaning most individuals could not identify a trafficking victim, even if they lived in their own community. There is only very recently increased awareness of trafficking, its victims, how to identify them, and how to treat them. According to Heather Clawson and Nicole Dutch, trafficking victims are kept isolated with no freedom and very little movement. Any and all contact with the outside world is controlled by the trafficker, making victims dependent on them for everything (2008). Fear is a huge factor in keeping victims hidden from the rest of the world. Victims fear the
They have been categorized into two types, barriers for victims, and barriers for providers. The barriers for victims include fear of the abuser, fear of law enforcement, stigma and PTSD. The stigma of being a trafficking victim involves a sense of shame or fear of the response they will receive. Victims will often times be asked why they did not leave when they had the chance, and the response is typically they did not want to have others, including law enforcement look down on them or pity them. Victims are often afraid their abuser will find them if they leave, or hurt their families if they leave. Victims also fear what they will do next if they do leave. They have no home, often no family, no job, no education, etc. They have no idea what they would do if they were to ever escape their abuser, so they stay where they know they are being given everything they need, even if it is an unhealthy and abusive setting. Being dependent on the abusers makes it difficult for victims to find their own voice, or do things on their own because they have always needed the permission or approval from their abuser (Clawson and Dutch 2008). All of these barriers are also related to the impact of trafficking because without the fear, or the dependency these victims have on their abuser they would be much easier to treat. The barriers are issues the abusers have instilled into the victims to gain control over them. For example, dependency on an abuser for everything such as when to eat, sleep, use the restroom are all ways victims are impacted. Once they are free and no longer being trafficked the issue then becomes realizing they do not have to seek permission to do these things and they may still look to someone, an officer, a family member, a friend, to give the clearance to do certain things. Another barrier for victims is the availability or appropriateness of services. In more rural areas, services are