OPRE Releases Report on Trafficking Prevalence Studies

July 19, 2021

The Office on Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) recently released “Human Trafficking Policy and Research Analysis Project: Comprehensive Review of Prior Prevalence Studies and Recommendations for Field Testing in the United States.” The report summarizes the methods used in prior studies on determining the prevalence of human trafficking, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each estimation method as they relate to trafficking in general and specific demographics. 

Human trafficking is a widespread concern both in the United States and abroad but confirming the precise number of individuals being trafficked can be difficult. The OPRE report provides estimation strategies for calculating labor trafficking numbers within five industries that the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) recommended be considered priority areas in this study, including childcare, animal husbandry, and construction. 

Supported by a comprehensive literature review, OPRE’s report offers promising methods for estimating the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States and details recommendations and solutions for field testing. 

Read the full report