Each year, human trafficking continues to evolve. As traffickers adapt their methods, identifying survivors, prosecuting perpetrators, and maintaining a clear understanding of trafficking becomes increasingly difficult. This reality underscores the importance of ongoing education. Without a commitment to learning, we risk overlooking the signs of exploitation and unintentionally reinforcing the barriers survivors face. January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month and provides a meaningful opportunity for all of us to grow in our awareness and understanding of this issue. Human trafficking today looks very different than it did even five years ago.
One lesser-known form of trafficking that has become increasingly prevalent is forced criminality. Forced criminality is a “form of trafficking in persons that occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to compel another person to engage in criminal conduct for the benefit of the trafficker” (Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons). Traffickers use this tactic to avoid accountability, instead putting the legal responsibility of their actions on the victims themselves. Forced criminality often overlaps with other forms of trafficking, including sex trafficking, making identification even more difficult.
For survivors, forced criminality creates significant and lasting barriers. Rather than being recognized as victims of exploitation, individuals are arrested and charged for crimes they were forced to commit. Once involved in the criminal justice system, survivors frequently lose their access to critical resources and support, and instead gain criminal records, reduced freedom, and increased stigmas, all of which further hinders their ability to heal.
Unfortunately, forced criminality can result in lifelong legal consequences for survivors. “Trafficked individuals who are forced to commit a crime are commonly mistaken for criminals—rather than being identified as victims—and therefore treated as such by law enforcement and judicial officials” (United States Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons). Due to limited victim identification and screening, many survivors remain undetected within the justice system. As traffickers use victims to shield themselves from prosecution, justice is rarely served. In fact, only about 6% of exploiters are ever held criminally accountable. Meanwhile, “62% of survivors reported being cited, arrested, or detained by law enforcement at least once, and among those individuals, 71% had or have a criminal record as a result. Ninety percent reported that some or all of their criminal records were related to unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked” (United States Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons).
These criminal records create long-term barriers for survivors, often impacting their ability to secure employment, housing, higher education, and government assistance. Survivors may also face immigration challenges, loss of child custody, or sex offender registration, all of which complicate recovery and stability (United States Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons). These obstacles significantly impede healing and restoration.
In response to these realities, RAHAB Ministries’ Outreach program intentionally operates within correctional facilities and participates in human trafficking court dockets. We recognize that many women in these spaces arrived there due to exploitation. We also understand that incarceration greatly increases their vulnerability to future trafficking. As we work with minors and adults across Cuyahoga, Summit, and Stark Counties, we approach each person with the understanding that deeper issues may very well have contributed to their criminal charges. By addressing the underlying needs, we can help reduce future risk and offer hope.
During our 2025 all-staff reflections, we were reminded of God’s faithfulness as we witnessed an increasing number of women coming directly to our Drop-In Homes on the first day they were released from a correctional facility. We saw 112 women served in more than one of RAHAB’s programs (click here to learn more about each program), with the vast majority overlapping from our Jail Outreach to our Drop-In Homes. Continuing relationships with women after their release allows us to offer stability, connect them with additional resources, support them through challenges related to criminal records, and ultimately point them to the lasting hope found in Christ.
When we are more aware of the realities faced by trafficked individuals, we become better equipped to serve survivors with wisdom, compassion, and grace. Education empowers us to move beyond assumptions, advocate effectively, and minister to the deeper needs of survivors. As Christians, we are called to stand in the gap and reflect God’s heart for restoration. By committing to continued learning and engagement, we can play a meaningful role in breaking cycles of exploitation and bringing healing to those impacted by trafficking.
We encourage you to follow along for the rest of this month as we investigate more developments we have seen in human trafficking. If you’d like to learn more about human trafficking and the impact it has, please sign up to attend one of RAHAB’s Community Trainings. Click here to learn more and register.