State-level arrest trends for human trafficking and prostitution in Ohio, 2008 –2018

AbstractThe current study examined the impact of state-level human trafficking reforms on local enforcement of human trafficking and prostitution arrests. Utilizing data from Ohio ’s Incident-Based Crime Reporting System (OIBRS), we examined 16,750 unique human trafficking and prostitution-related incidents from 2008 to 2018. The analysis included an examination of arrest trends before and after the passing of state legislation in 2011 to include trafficking in persons in t he Ohio Revised Code. The addition of this law aimed to identify victims, provide necessary services, and coordinate investigation. The results revealed that human trafficking arrests increased slightly over the 10-year period. Prostitution related arrests varied over the same period but did illustr ate a general downward trend relative to human trafficking arrests. Anti-trafficking legislative changes are intended to influence patterns of both human trafficking arrests and prostitution-related arrests. Implementation of new human trafficking laws appears to occur slowly; thus, future research should continue to assess the relationship between legislation changes and enforcement trends.
Source: Crime, Law and Social Change - Category: Criminology Source Type: research