Who Are the Victims and Perpetrators of Human Trafficking?
Trafficking is indifferent to borders, socioeconomic status, and individual circumstances. However, certain individuals are particularly vulnerable, including the following:
- Individuals in poverty
- Homeless youth
- Runaway teens
- Migrants or new immigrants
- Refugees or displaced individuals
- Victims of domestic or sexual abuse
- Individuals in foster care or child protective services
- Those with substance abuse issues
- People with mental health issues
- Low-income workers in unregulated industries
- Women and girls in areas with gender discrimination
- People with disabilities
- LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly trans women
- Individuals in war-torn regions
- People with a criminal history
On the other side of the equation, perpetrators of human trafficking can be varied, ranging from individuals to large organized groups and often including the following:
- Pimps and madams in the commercial sex industry
- Gangs, human smugglers, and organized crime syndicates
- Employers or small business owners in certain industries
- Family members, relatives, or intimate partners
- Corrupt officials or law enforcement personnel
- Traffickers in conflict zones or areas with a weak rule of law
- Operators or visitors of websites facilitating online sex trafficking
- Drug dealers exploiting addicts
- Individuals or groups exploiting victims of natural disasters or crises
Unlike human smuggling, trafficking does not necessarily involve transportation or movement. Many people are exploited and trafficked in their own homes.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Sex Trafficking?
In a sex trafficking case, liability could extend to numerous parties involved in different facets of the trafficking operation. These parties might include individuals, organizations, businesses, or even government entities.
Potential defendants who could be held accountable for sex trafficking include traffickers who directly engage in recruiting, transporting, or controlling victims for exploitation. Employers who knowingly or negligently benefit from forced labor or services could also be liable. Finally, property owners (such as hotels, motels, and apartment complexes) who knowingly allow their premises to be used for trafficking activities and third-party beneficiaries who financially profit from trafficking operations could be responsible.
What Are Legal Remedies for Human Trafficking Victims?
Survivors of human trafficking in Texas often have several legal remedies available, potentially including the following:
What Compensation Is Recoverable in a Human Trafficking Claim?
In a human trafficking claim, various types of compensation could be available to address the physical, emotional, and financial harm you suffered. For instance, you could recover money for:
- Medical expenses from trafficking-related physical or psychological injuries
- The costs of mental health services, counseling, or therapy to aid in the healing process
- Unpaid wages, lost income, or losses in lifetime earning capacity
- Intangible losses like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and lost enjoyment of life
- Reasonable attorney fees and costs related to your trafficking claim
- The costs of rehabilitation programs, vocational training, or educational services you need to support your reintegration into society
- Punitive damages, which courts sometimes order at-fault parties to pay their victims as a form of punishment for particularly egregious offenses
How Long Do I Have to File a Human Trafficking Civil Lawsuit in Texas?
In Texas, human trafficking lawsuits are subject to strict legal time limits. The filing window for a lawsuit typically starts on the date the victim becomes aware of the harm they suffered, often the date of their liberation from trafficking. The applicable deadlines can vary significantly, often ranging from several years to a decade or more, depending on factors like the sex trafficking victim’s age and the type of trafficking involved.
Missing one of these filing deadlines could jeopardize your right to hold the perpetrators accountable and recover monetary compensation for your suffering. A skilled Houston human trafficking victim attorney can identify key filing deadlines and handle all case details promptly and accurately on your behalf.
Texas and National Resources and Support for Sex Trafficking Survivors
The following organizations provide support, resources, and services tailored to the needs of sex trafficking survivors in Houston, Texas, and throughout the U.S.:
