Human trafficking: Slavery in Minnesota
2/26/2024 by Marissa Cepress, M.D.
What is human trafficking?
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. There are two categories of human trafficking: sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Sex trafficking is when someone forces or influences a person to perform sexual acts against their will, while labor trafficking is when someone forces or influences a person to work without appropriate training, safety, breaks, pay or appropriate living conditions.
Who are the victims of human trafficking?
ANYONE can be a victim of human trafficking.
- The most common age for a victim to enter "the life" is 12 to 14 years old.
- Once victims enter "the life," they are only expected to live for seven more years.
- Women and girls are more likely to be victims of sex trafficking, but men and boys are victims as well.
- Black, "Latinx" and American Indian individuals are more likely to be victims than white individuals.
Who are johns?
Johns are the people who traffic victims. ANYONE can be a john, but most commonly they know the victim very well — boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, parent, family member or close friend. It's uncommon for johns to be a stranger to the victim. People who buy victims are typically trusted members of the community, like government representatives, business owners, CEOs and even members of law enforcement.
So how do victims become victims?
Unlike what we see in movies, human trafficking is usually NOT a violent crime. Victims are typically NOT abducted or held somewhere against their will. Instead, johns use lies to manipulate their victims. Johns pretend that they love their victims, care for them, will protect them and will give them everything they need if they simply do what they say. Over time, the johns threaten to take away everything the victim cares about if they ever try to leave "the life" — family, friends, money, love or acceptance. This vicious, psychological cycle is what holds victims captive.
But human trafficking doesn't happen in Minnesota, right?
Human trafficking happens EVERYWHERE – your neighbor's home, the hotel down the street, or the farm on the outskirts of town. Here are some statistics specific to Minnesota:
- Human trafficking has been reported in every county.
- The majority of human trafficking is sex trafficking.
- In 2015, Minnesota had the third-highest number of human trafficking cases in the U.S.
- The Twin Cities is in the top 13 U.S. cities for child sex trafficking.
- In 2020-2021, there were 21 labor trafficking victims and 401 sex trafficking victims identified.
- Labor trafficking victims are most commonly both men and women over the age of 18, Hispanic/"Latinx" individuals, and are typically trafficked in the household, restaurant and agriculture industries.
- Sex trafficking victims are most commonly girls and women of any age, Black, white and American Indian. Johns are most commonly an intimate partner.
What should I do if I'm concerned that someone is a victim?
It would be best if you first talked to the person you are concerned about. Sometimes they do not think they are a victim, as they believe they are willingly in their situation, but they are still a victim! Give them the following numbers and tell them that they will remain anonymous.
- Safe Harbor Regional Navigator: 507-328-7293
- For victims 26 years old and younger in Olmsted County.
- Victim Services: 507-328-7270
- For victims in Southeast Minnesota.
- Sexual Assault 24-hour Crisis Line: 507-289-0636
- For victims in Olmsted County.
- Day One Crisis Hotline: 866-223-1111
- For a victim anywhere in Minnesota.
Marissa Cepress, M.D., is a Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine resident in Rochester, Minn. After residency, she plans to complete a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology and bone marrow transplant. She also has a strong interest in advocating for victims of human trafficking.