United States laws and helpful supplementary material are available in print at the VUSL library or online on databases such as Westlaw, Lexis, and BloombergLaw. Free electronic access to federal laws is available on Cornell Law’s Legal Information Institute website and on various government websites.
The Constitution of the United States of America:
Thirteenth Amendment prohibition on slavery and involuntary servitude
The United States Criminal Code (Second Floor: KF62 .A2 2012):
18 U.S.C. § 1589: Forced labor
18 U.S.C. § 1590: Trafficking with respect to peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude, or forced labor
18 U.S.C. § 1591: Sex trafficking of children or by force, fraud, or coercion
18 U.S.C. § 1592: unlawful conduct with respect to documents in furtherance of trafficking, peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude, or forced labor
18 U.S.C. § 1597: unlawful conduct with respect to immigration documents
18 U.S.C. §§ 1961 – 1968: Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
Selected Federal Laws:
Human Trafficking: Key Federal Criminal Statutes from the Congressional Research Service
Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TPVA) of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-386 (codified in scattered sections of 22 U.S.C. and 18 U.S.C., including 18 U.S.C. §§ 1589 – 1592 referenced below). One the TPVA’s self-proclaimed purposes is “[t]o combat trafficking in persons, especially into the sex trade, slavery, and involuntary servitude.” The statute grants protections to victims of trafficking and established the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons within the United States Department of State. The TPVA was reauthorized in 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2013.
§ 7101: purpose and findings
§ 7102: definitions
§ 7103: Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking
§ 7103(a): creating, building, and strengthening partnerships against significant trafficking in persons
§ 7104: prevention of trafficking
§ 7104(a): compliance plan and certification requirement
§ 7104(b): monitoring and investigation of trafficking in persons
§ 7104(c): notification to inspectors general and cooperation with government
§ 7104(d): rules of construction; effective date
§ 7104(e): preventing future trafficking in the United States through receipt of complaints abroad
§ 7105: Protection and assistance for victims of trafficking
§ 7105(a): increasing effectiveness of anti-trafficking programs
§ 7105(b): improving domestic victim screening procedures
§ 7106: minimum standards for elimination of trafficking
§ 7107: actions against governments failing to meet minimum standards
§ 7108: actions against significant traffickers in persons
§ 7109: strengthening prosecution and punishment of traffickers
§ 7109(a): research on domestic and international trafficking in persons
§ 7109(b): Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons
§ 7110: authorizations of appropriations
§ 7111: report by Secretary of State
§ 7113: accountability
§ 7114: efforts to end modern slavery
Selected TPVA Reauthorization Acts:
2003 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, Pub. L. No. 108-193 (codified in 18 U.S.C. § 1595 and 22 U.S.C. § 7109a).
2005 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, Pub. L. No. 109-164 (codified in scattered sections of 18 U.S.C., 22 U.S.C., and 42 U.S.C.). \
Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015:
Strengthens services for victims via changes in criminal liability of buyers of commercial sex from victims of trafficking.
Requires creation of domestic trafficking fund to support victim assistance programs
Amended Runaway and Homeless Youth Act by declaring youth who are victims of trafficking are eligible for services under the RHYA
Amended the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act by adding trafficking as a form of child abuse
Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act of 2014:
- States must develop policies to identify, document, screen, and determine appropriate services for children under the child welfare agency’s care and supervision, who are victims of, or at risk of, sex trafficking.
- State welfare agencies must immediately report children in their care identified as sex trafficking victims to law enforcement
- State welfare agencies must report the numbers of children in their care identified as sex trafficking victims to HHS.
- Requires child welfare agencies to develop and implement protocols to locate children who runaway or are missing from foster care.
Amends section 230 of the CDA and allows criminal/civil actions against a website if its conduct violates federal sex trafficking laws
Amends 18 U.S.C. § 1591 to add a definition of “participation in a venture,” as knowingly, assisting, facilitating, or supporting sex trafficking
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. §§ 1101—1537. The INA provides protections to immigrant victims of crime, including trafficking victims.
Selected INA Laws:
The U Visa, 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(U). This statute outlines the requirements to obtain a U Visa, which is a nonimmigrant visa that enables victims of certain crimes who assist law enforcement in the prosecution of those crimes to obtain legal status and work eligibility for four years. The U Visa strengthens the ability of law enforcement to prosecute crimes and provides protections to immigrant victims, who are often targeted as particularly vulnerable to crime.
The T Visa, 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(T). This statute outlines the requirements to obtain a T Visa, which provides immigration protections to victims of human trafficking who are physically present in the United States as a result of trafficking. Like the U Visa, the T Visa has the dual purposes of helping law enforcement and immigrant victims of crime.
Mann Act of 1910, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2421 – 2424. Criminalizes the transportation of an individual in interstate or foreign commerce for prostitution purposes.
Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation of Children Today (PROTECT) Act, Pub. L. No. 108-21 (codified in scattered sections of 42 U.S.C. and 18 U.S.C.). Enacted to prevent child abduction and sex tourism.
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961 – 1968.
8 C.F.R. § 214.1 – 214.15
The Federal Register:
The Federal Register defines itself as “the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents.”
Federal Court information is accessible from many sources. PACER, or Public Access to Court Electronic Records, provides electronic access to federal docket and case information for a fee. Federal court decisions are also cataloged in various reporters according to court level. Most cases are easily accessible on the internet and on Westlaw, Lexis, and BloombergLaw. Locate cases involving human trafficking law by using search terms or accessing a digest like West’s Key Number System.
The United States Courts:
United States District Courts in the Region:
Selected Court Reporters and Digests:
United States Reports (Second Floor: Compact Shelving, KF101 .A3)
West’s Supreme Court Reporter (Second Floor: Compact Shelving, KF101 .S3)
West’s Federal Reporter (Second Floor: Compact Shelving, KF105 .F3)
West’s Federal Appendix (Second Floor: KF105 .F4)
West’s Federal Supplement (Second Floor: Compact Shelving, KF120 .F4)
West’s Federal Practice Digest (Second Floor: KF127 .W47 2013)
Selected West Key Number System Topics:
164T: Extortion
356: Slaves
321: Rape
321E: Kidnapping
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Bonded Labor Brothel Crime / Criminal Debt Bondage Forced Labor Labor |
Human Rights Human Trafficking Pimp Prostitution Sex Slavery |
The Constitution of Pennsylvania
Purdon's Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Annotated (Reserve, Third Floor: KFP30 1930 .A44)
Selected Pennsylvania Statutes:
National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline Act, 43 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 1491—1499. This 2012 statute mandates the posting of the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline in establishments in the state where trafficking victims are likely to visit such as restaurants, bars, adult entertainment locations, hotels, and transportation centers.
18 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 2701 – 2717. Assault.
18 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 2901 – 2910. Kidnapping.
18 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 3001 – 3004. Trafficking of Persons.
18 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 3101 – 3144. Sexual Offenses.
Pennsylvania Crimes Code, Chapter 30: Pennsylvania's Comprehensive Anti-Trafficking Law
18 Pa.C.S. § 3001: human trafficking
18 Pa.C.S. § 3011: trafficking in individuals
18 Pa.C.S. § 3012: involuntary servitude
18 Pa.C.S. § 3019: victim protection during prosecution
Identifying information may be free from public disclosure
Possible affirmative defense against prostitution charges
First offenders may receive priority for diversion programs
Individuals convicted of certain trafficking offenses may file a motion to vacate convictions
18 Pa.C.S. § 3051: civil causes of action
Civil cause of action against perpetrator
Awards for damages
Attorney fees for prevailing party
42 Pa.C.S. § 5945.3: applies same sexual assault counselor confidential privilege communication to sexual assault counselors serving as human trafficking counselors
The Pennsylvania Bulletin, the Federal Register’s counterpart, is a weekly publication noting changes to state court rules, executive orders, and agency regulations and notices.
Select Compilations of State Laws:
Polaris Project notes that its 2013 State Ratings on Human Trafficking Laws rates “all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 10 categories of laws that are critical to a basic legal framework that combats human trafficking, punishes traffickers and supports survivors.” Pennsylvania falls within tier 2 of 4, signaling room for improvement. Nearby New Jersey is one of two states to achieve a perfect score.
The Human Trafficking Laws in the States Report, compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures in February 2014, lists and summarizes state laws relating to human trafficking.
State court opinions can be harder to locate than opinions from federal court cases. Many Pennsylvania state court opinions are cataloged in court reporters and are available on Westlaw, Lexis, and BloombergLaw. Opinions may also be available on the relevant court’s website.
Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania
Selected Court Reporters and Digests:
West’s Atlantic Reporter (Second Floor, KF135 .A7)
Pennsylvania State Reports (Third Floor, KFP45 .A2)
West’s Atlantic Digest (Second Floor, KF135 .A71)
West’s Pennsylvania Digest (Third Floor, KFP57 .W47 1983)
The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime is an international, multilateral treaty aimed at fighting crimes that cross borders. States that ratify the Convention, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on November 15, 2000, pledge to take measures to combat transnational organized crime and uphold the Convention’s three Protocols.
Selected Protocols:
The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (UN TIP Protocol), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000 and entering into force on December 25, 2003, is the first international instrument to adopt a legally binding definition of “trafficking in persons.” The Protocol indicates it serves to “facilitate convergence in national approaches with regard to the establishment of domestic criminal offences that would support efficient international cooperation in investigating and prosecuting trafficking in persons cases.”
Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, largely defines human rights law. It outlines fundamental human rights including equality, freedom of movement, and prohibitions against slavery and torture.
Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. This treaty established the European Court of Human Rights, which affords a forum to an individual of a Counsel of Europe member state alleging a violation of their human rights.
Select Compilations of International Laws:
Trafficking Laws from Various Countries, The Protection Project
Child Trafficking Digital Library
Human Rights Model Laws and Action Plans, The Protection Project
An easy way to locate state, federal, and international cases involving human trafficking is by searching a human trafficking case law database. These databases often allow you to search for cases by jurisdiction:
University of Michigan Law School’s Human Trafficking Database of Cases. This excellent database catalogues human trafficking cases to aid researches and law enforcement.
Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Department of Justice agency websites often publish news updates on recent cases and investigations.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s International Human Trafficking Case Law Database
In 2009, the International Labour Office’s Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labor published Forced Labor and Human Trafficking: Casebook of Court Decisions, a training manual for judges, prosecutors, and legal practitioners. The 120 page casebook is downloadable at the ILO website link above, and examines forced labor and trafficking cases in international courts, region courts, South Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
World Legal Information Institute maintains a searchable database of decisions, which the organization claims captures “over 270 databases from 48 jurisdictions in 20 countries.”