Part of an ongoing series for WGA’s focus area: Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls
Florida ranks third in the nation for the number of human trafficking cases reported. According to the Polaris Project (2025), thousands of potential victims are identified across the state each year — from Miami to Jacksonville, and across rural and coastal counties. While exact numbers are difficult to determine (due to underreporting and secrecy), experts agree it is a significant and growing problem.
What Is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery — the exploitation of another person through force, fraud, or coercion for labor or sex. There are two main types of trafficking:
- Sex trafficking: When someone is forced, coerced, or deceived into commercial sex acts
- Labor trafficking: When someone is forced to work under threat or coercion, often for little or no pay
Who Are the Victims?
Victims of human trafficking can be anyone — children, teens, or adults. Both males and females can be targeted, though women and girls make up the majority of sex trafficking victims. In Florida, victims include both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals trafficked across borders or within our own communities.
Traffickers may use promises of love, jobs, or safety as bait. While anyone can fall victim, certain vulnerable groups face higher risk:
- Children/teens from unstable or abusive homes
- Runaway or homeless youth, including LGBTQ+ youth who face family rejection
- Undocumented immigrants seeking work
- Individuals with prior trauma or addiction histories
IMPORTANT: There are no child prostitutes — only victims of trafficking.
When a person under 18 is involved in commercial sex, it is automatically considered human trafficking, regardless of force or coercion. This is known as Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC).
Florida’s Safe Harbor Act
Passed in 2012, this law recognizes children and youth involved in trafficking as victims, not criminals. It ensures they receive specialized care and protection instead of being prosecuted for acts committed under exploitation.
How to Disrupt Supply and Demand
Trafficking thrives because demand persists for cheap labor and commercial sex. WGA recently spoke to Kristin Keen, CEO and founder of Rethreaded, a non-profit in Jacksonville that has been focused on supporting local victims of human trafficking since 2011. She shared some of what is new and noteworthy in addressing this important topic.”
Keen noted that Rethreaded and many partners have been working collaboratively on a city-wide human trafficking reduction movement. “The goal,” she says, “is to disrupt the demand and supply. Reducing demand requires cultural change.
This includes:
- Recognition of the harms of the adult entertainment industry
- Heavy criminalization for those buying sex
- Large fines charged to individuals buying sex (The fine money can be put into a fund for victim services)
- Educational and healing opportunities — to encourage individuals to stop buying sex
On the other side is helping disrupt supply by providing outreach and assistance to suspected victims of trafficking. We must focus on providing trafficking victims the “safest quickest exit to leave the life,” says Keen. This includes maintaining a survivor safety network and supporting decriminalization (not arresting victims). Hadassah’s Hope is a local non-profit providing outreach via text messages to potential trafficking victims by targeting the zip codes where sex ads for women have been placed. Since January 1, 2025, they have sent out over 11,000 texts to individual cell phones.
Messaging to Sports Fans
A human trafficking awareness campaign was recently launched in Jacksonville at the EverBank Stadium, with posters featured in all the restrooms. This was in collaboration with the Epik Project, JSO, the City of Jacksonville, and others including sports teams such as the Jaguars, Armada, Jumbo Shrimp, Icemen, and Sharks. Research has shown that the number of ads for sex increases dramatically when and where major sporting events take place.
This image appears on a poster in the men’s restroom at EverBank Stadium. It is part of a collaborative city-wide human trafficking reduction initiative.
This image is of a poster in the women’s restrooms at EverBank Stadium. It is part of a collaborative city-wide human trafficking reduction initiative.
While the targeted messaging to men and women is different, it is important to note that the posters do include “Not all traffickers are men and not all survivors are women” and provide resources for assistance.
Who Is Addressing Human Trafficking in Northeast Florida?
Trafficking networks often intersect with money, secrecy, and systemic failures. Addressing this issue requires strong collaboration and partnerships. Here in Northeast Florida, a network of agencies, nonprofits, and community partners is working together to prevent trafficking and support survivors.
Law Enforcement and Task Forces
Law Enforcement and Task Forces
- Northeast Florida Inter-Agency Child Exploitation and Persons Trafficking Task Force (NEFL INTERCEPT) – A public–private partnership involving Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), local sheriff’s offices including the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and nonprofits
- Northeast Florida Human Trafficking Coalition
- Bright Network – A resource referral network for service providers that support trafficking survivors.
Local Organizations Making a Difference
- Villages of Hope – Provides transitional housing and mentoring for at-risk youth
- Her Song (Tim Tebow Foundation) – Offers residential programs for women survivors of sex trafficking
- ReThreaded – A Jacksonville-based social enterprise employing survivors to create handcrafted goods
- Women’s Center of Jacksonville – Provides trauma recovery services and advocacy for survivors
- Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center – Focuses on system reform and advocacy for girls affected by trauma and exploitation
- Hadassah’s Hope – Provides outreach to women in the adult entertainment industry and services to those seeking to leave
How can we help?
There are ways to make a difference:
1. Fund Survivor-Centered Organizations
Support programs that provide housing, therapy, education, and job training.
2. Advocate for Policy Change
Use your influence to promote:
- Stricter penalties for traffickers
- Expanded services for survivors
While wealth and status may shield some perpetrators from scrutiny, community awareness, investigative journalism, and survivor advocacy are breaking that silence.
3. Educate and Engage Your Network
Host awareness events, share resources, or invite survivor advocates to speak at women’s organizations, faith groups, or corporate gatherings.
4. Employ and Empower Survivors
Partner with local businesses that hire trafficking survivors.