Pennsylvanians’ Perceptions of the Nature and Extent of Human Trafficking

Bibliographic Data

ID18980907
AuthorsE Strohacker (0000-0001-9757-4139, Pennsylvania State University, corresponding author), Jennifer C Gibbs (0000-0003-1346-2960, Pennsylvania State University), Samantha Woolford (University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee)
Year2023
Volume9
Issue2
Pages212-228
Publication date2023-04-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Human Trafficking (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2332-2705 • E-ISSN: 2332-2713
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/23322705.2021.1898249
OpenAlexW3139491372
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited21

From 2015 to 2019, reported cases of human trafficking within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have increased by approximately 140%. Further, in the past 10 years, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received over 5,000 calls about human trafficking from Pennsylvania – almost one-tenth of the over 60,000 cases of human trafficking nationwide. Given the extent of this problem, this study sought to explore Pennsylvanians’ understanding of the definition and prevalence of human trafficking.To do so, 1,047 adult residents of Pennsylvania completed an online survey through Qualtrics. Findings show that only 12.8% of respondents were able to correctly identify human trafficking as including both sex and labor, while 45.7% were unable to identify either. Further, Pennsylvanians believe human trafficking is a problem, especially in the Commonwealth. Some significant differences emerged by gender, race, education, political viewpoints, and age. The results of this study provide evidence of a need to increase and improve public education within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania surrounding the possible forms (i.e. sex and labor) and victims of human trafficking, as the public’s understanding of human trafficking is crucial to identify cases and affect change in both policy and practice

Commonwealth · Criminology · Environmental health · Hotline · Human services · Human trafficking · Perception · Poison control · Political science · Politics · Public health · Sex trafficking · Suicide prevention · Viewpoints · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Law · Medicine · Psychology · Sex work and related issues · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology

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