The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation has released its report, “A Baseline Assessment of Human Trafficking in the State of Wisconsin,” assessing — through a voluntary survey of law enforcement, prosecutors, victim witness coordinators and governmental social service providers — the extent of human trafficking across Wisconsin.

Some of the report’s key findings include:

• Human trafficking in Wisconsin takes the form of both sex trafficking and labor trafficking, and it is committed against both adults and minors;
• Most of the human trafficking cases reported occur in areas of the state that are highly populated and have a significant tourist or visitor population;
• Early intervention is critical for helping victims or potential victims leave or avoid a life of trafficking;
• There is a lack of adequate services for victims of human trafficking throughout the state. The most notable services needed are adequate housing, healthcare, and advocacy;
• Progress has been made in multiple areas of the state to address the lack of adequate services for victims of human trafficking;
• Further training on human trafficking is needed by law enforcement and other professionals who may encounter this type of activity;
• The lack of standardized definitions of and reporting on human trafficking make it difficult to collect accurate figures on this crime.