Every human trafficking situation is unique. Self-identification as a trafficking victim or survivor can happen along a continuum and in a variety of different ways. More often than not, the tip or report to law enforcement comes from an outside source, rather than the victim self-identifying to law enforcement.

When you think of the people involved in a sex trafficking case, you likely picture the victim as a young girl or woman from a difficult background and the trafficker as an adult male. While this is possible, it’s only one of thousands of possibilities. Here’s why it’s important to rid ourselves of these stereotypes and understand the diversity of victims and traffickers alike.

Law enforcement officers utilize a variety of investigative approaches for different cases. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. For human trafficking and other cases involving exploitation, the best approach an officer can take is the victim-centered approach. So, what is victim-centered policing and why is it important to human trafficking investigations?