Understanding the Organization, Operation, and Victimization Process of Labor Trafficking in the United States

R E S E A R C H R E P O R T Understanding the Organization, Operation, and Victimization Process of Labor Trafficking in the United States Colleen Owens Meredith Dank, PhD Justin Breaux Isela Bañuelos U R B A N IN S TI TU TE U R B A N IN S TI TU TE U R B A N IN S TI TU TE U R B A N IN S TI TU TE Amy Farrell, PhD Rebecca Pfeffer, PhD Katie Bright Ryan Heitsmith N OR TH E A S TE R N U N IV E R SI TY N OR TH E A S TE R N U N IV E R SI TY N OR TH E A S TE R N U N IV E R SI TY N OR TH E A S TE R N U N IV E R S I TY Jack McDevitt, PhD N OR TH E A S TE R N U N IV E R SI TY October 2014 C R I M E A N D J U S T I C E A B O U T T H E U R B A N I N S T I T U T E The nonprofit Urban Institute is dedicated to elevating the debate on social and economic policy. For nearly five decades, Urban scholars have conducted research and offered evidence-based solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities across a rapidly urbanizing world. Their objective research helps expand opportunities for all, reduce hardship among the most vulnerable, and strengthen the effectiveness of the public sector. The Urban Institute is a nonprofit policy research organization. It has been incorporated and is operated as a public charity. It has received official IRS recognition of its tax-exempt status under sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Institute’s federal ID number is 52-0880375. Donations will be tax deductible and may be disclosed to the IRS and the public, unless given anonymously. We are committed to transparent accounting of the resources we receive. In addition to required tax filings, a copy of the Urban Institute’s audited financial statement is available to anyone who requests it. Copyright © 2014. Urban Institute. Permission is granted for reproduction of this file, with attribution to the Urban Institute. Cover image by Matthew Johnson. Contents Acknowledgments v Abstract vii Executive Summary ix Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Statement of the Problem 1 Literature Review 4 Rationale for Research 15 Chapter 2: Methodology 17 Site Selection and Data Collection 17 Analysis 21 Limitations 22 Chapter 3: Characteristics of Victims and Suspects 24 Labor Trafficking Perpetrators 34 Chapter 4: Recruitment into Labor Trafficking 44 Chapter 5: Movement 59 Chapter 6: Labor Trafficking Victimization and Labor Exploitation Experiences 75 Chapter 7: Escape from Labor Trafficking 100 Chapter 8: After the Escape: Labor Trafficking Survivors’ Needs, Service Provision, and Outcomes 120 Chapter 9: Criminal Justice Process 165 Chapter 10: Conclusion and Recommendations 198 Discussion 198 Recommendations 204 Recommendations for Further Research 217 Notes 219 References 223 Appendix A: Venn Diagram of Labor Exploitation, Child Labor, and Labor Trafficking 226 Appendix B: Site Selection Screening Protocol 227 Appendix C: Client Case Coding Instrument 231 Appendix D: Service Provider Interview Protocol 238 Appendix E: Recruitment Guide 243 Appendix F: Spanish and Tagalog-Translated Consent Form and Project Descriptions 247 Appendix G: Survivor Interview Protocol (English and Spanish) 252 Appendix H: Survivor Consent Form 273 Appendix I: Migrant Farmworker Focus Group Protocol 275 Appendix J: Law Enforcement Interview Protocol 279 Appendix K: Department of Labor Interview Protocol 285 AC K N O W L E D G M E N T S V Acknowledgments This project was awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice (supported by Award No. 2011-IJ-CX-0026). The authors thank a number of individuals for their advice, support, and tireless dedication during the course of this study, especially Juan Pedroza, Debbie Mayer, Leila Collins, Lilly Yu, Stephanie Fahy, and Brittany Rumble for their assistance with protocol development; data collection, cleaning, and coding; and editing. We also thank William Adams of the Urban Institute for his careful review of this report. We are indebted to the Urban Institute Communications team for their tireless efforts to support this study. Specifically, we thank Kate Villarreal, Stu Kantor, Matthew Johnson, Christina Baird, Fiona Blackshaw, Elizabeth Forney, Timothy Meko, and Ashleigh Rich. We are grateful for the support and assistance of John Picarelli and Maureen McGough of the National Institute of Justice. We also extend a very special thanks to Florrie Burke, Bill Bernstein, and the individuals who served on our advisory board for sharing their knowledge, expertise, and guidance. The narratives and data collected for this report would not have been possible without the cooperation of the Freedom Network service provider staff members in our study sites. We are extremely grateful for their assistance facilitating access to case records, helping coordinate survivor interviews, and sharing their insights, experiences, and recommendations. We are also indebted to the investigators, prosecutors, and regulators in e