Taking a Proactive Approach

Proactive cases do not present to law enforcement at all; instead, they result from operations that are pre-planned, over time, through the use of more advanced investigative methods and criminal intelligence. All cases should involve close coordination with victim service providers in anticipation of encountering potential victims. Some examples include—

• Labor trafficking identification and investigations: Unlike sex trafficking, labor trafficking investigations are less clear cut. It is an emerging and dynamic area that takes creativity to address. One strategy to consider is partnering with key stakeholders, such as labor or code compliance inspectors, who may have more access and the ability to identify cases if given proper training.
• Tips About Proactive Case Strategies
• Note that many task forces conduct "John" or decoy operations, which support anti-trafficking efforts by targeting the demand side of the sex trade. Undercover officers post online ads for adult services and arrest the suspects. Note that this strategy does not uncover actual victims of trafficking. Decoy operations are often accompanied by publication of perpetrators, which can be more dangerous. It is important for the task force to review priorities and decide what is most effective for the operation.

Every task force needs to work both labor and sex trafficking cases effectively. Task forces that are more advanced are able to conduct a larger number of proactive investigations. Using proactive techniques in reactive cases often leads to the intelligence that later forms the basis of longer term "spin-off" investigations. Proactive case leads also often arise from red-flag trainings, street outreach, task force relationships, and partnerships. It all works in concert—bringing public awareness of human trafficking and doing direct outreach to stakeholders, such as utility workers, hotel employees, emergency room staff, school personnel, and others, can help build cases for law enforcement.

A human trafficking investigation entails three phases: pre-operational, operational, and post-operational.

• The pre-operational phase involves the foundational portions of the investigation that pose little to no risk of discovery by the targets.
• The operational phase begins once the investigators actually engage the targets with covert actions or tools, and continues through the arrest and takedown of the human trafficking operation itself.
• The post-operational phase includes all post-arrest aspects of the case.

Even though the three phases are sequential in nature, no case develops exactly as planned, and different aspects or targets within a single proactive case can fall within multiple phases at the same time. Therefore, using the "three-phase" proactive terminology allows investigators and prosecutors to explain the status of pending cases to their chains of command and provide more accurate estimates.

For additional information and tools, visit the Resource page for Section 5.2 Taking a Proactive Approach.