How to Get Help: Contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888 — or Text INFO or HELP to BeFree (233733)
Learn more about federal and state anti-trafficking laws, including criminal sanctions for traffickers and purchasers, protections for victims, and mandated training.
Download an Overview of State and Federal Human Trafficking Laws.
“The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 created the first comprehensive federal law to address human trafficking, with a significant focus on the international dimension of the problem. The law provided a three-pronged approach: prevention through public awareness programs overseas and a State Department-led monitoring and sanctions program; protection through a new T-Visa and services for foreign national victims; and prosecution through new federal crimes.”
— polarisproject.org
As defined in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, the legal definition of “severe forms of trafficking in persons” is:
The Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act is a comprehensive law addressing accountability and reporting of runaway and missing children in foster care. The law required review of Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) to ensure Ohio is in compliance with Public Law 113-183.
Federal law and OAC changes (OAC 5101:2-42-88) require state and local agencies to:
Policy and legislation information from the Polaris Project.
As defined by the Ohio Revised Code Section 2905.32 (Trafficking in Persons), Ohio’s legal definition of human trafficking is:
“(A) No person shall knowingly recruit, lure, entice, isolate, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, or maintain…another person knowing that the person will be subjected to involuntary servitude or be compelled to engage in sexual activity…”
“…For a prosecution under division (A)(1) of this section, the element "compelled" does not require that the compulsion be openly displayed or physically exerted. The element "compelled" has been established if the state proves that the victim's will was overcome by force, fear, duress, or intimidation, or fraud.”
Law enforcement officers are required to receive human trafficking training through the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy. ORC 109.73
School districts are required to incorporate human trafficking training content into safety and violence prevention training plans. ORC 3319.073 (B)
Local law enforcement must report the number of human trafficking cases to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to be released annually. ORC 109.66