Human trafficking is illegal under both state and federal law.
The Washington State Clearinghouse on Human Trafficking provides information on statewide efforts to combat trafficking and resources for victims and survivors. Its primary goal is to share and coordinate statewide efforts to combat human trafficking.
Learn more about WA Statewide Human Trafficking Task Forces
WA Statewide Human Trafficking Task Forces
Resources
Human trafficking occurs when a person uses violence, deception, or threats of force to coerce another person to provide labor or commercial sex, and to prevent that person from leaving the situation. Human trafficking also occurs when a person recruits, harbors, transports, provides or obtains another person knowing that force, fraud or coercion will be used for labor or commercial sex. Trafficking is ongoing exploitation. Travel is not always involved.
Victims in the U.S. are entitled to protection and assistance, regardless of their immigration status.
Human trafficking occurs in many industries, including agriculture, construction, domestic service (housekeeper, nanny), restaurants, salons, prostitution, massage parlors and various other businesses.
To learn about services and help available for victims and survivors of trafficking, please visit Washington Trafficking Help.
Signs of human trafficking
- One person controlling another or a group (speaking for them; escorting them to/from work)
- Employer in control of employee’s identification/immigration documents
- People locked inside a residence or workplace
- Someone unable to leave a particular job (forced to work there)
- Threats to employee or employee’s family by employer
- “Debt” owed by employees to employer
- Employee living in employer-owned or controlled residence
What is labor trafficking?
Labor trafficking is using force, fraud or coercion to recruit, harbor, transport, provide, or obtain a person for labor or services. Labor trafficking may include (but is not limited to) involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery.
What is sex trafficking?
Sex trafficking is a commercial sex act induced by force, fraud, or coercion. Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor that is commercial in nature.
Washington state has been a leader among the states in addressing trafficking. It was the first in the country to pass a law specifically addressing trafficking in 2003. Since 2002, nearly 40 state laws have been passed addressing aspects of trafficking.
Legislative reports
- 2023 Report on Human Trafficking Laws and Investigations (PDF)
- 2021 Report on Human Trafficking Laws and Investigations (PDF)
- 2023 Report on Criminal Penalty Fees (PDF)
- 2021 Report on Criminal Penalty Fees (PDF)
- 2020 Report on Criminal Penalty Fees (PDF)
See Commerce’s Legislative Reports page for reports further back