A report from the New York State Assembly Minority Conference Human Trafficking Task Force has uncovered major gaps in the state’s response to human trafficking, pointing to a lack of funding, poor coordination, and ineffective policies that hinder law enforcement and victim support efforts.
The report criticizes the state’s Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking for failing to release timely reports and provide transparency. It notes a discrepancy between state-reported trafficking numbers—249 confirmed victims in the last available report—and data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, which identified 845 victims in 2023.
Stakeholders, including law enforcement officials, social workers, and trafficking survivors, described a system that is underfunded and disorganized. Many nonprofit groups working on anti-trafficking efforts reported difficulties in securing state funding, which has resulted in a shortage of safe housing and victim services. The process for obtaining funds was also criticized as being too complex and slow, leaving agencies struggling to meet demand.
The report further argues that recent criminal justice reforms, including bail reform and discovery law changes, have weakened protections for trafficking victims while making it harder to prosecute traffickers. Officials also raised concerns about efforts to decriminalize prostitution, warning that such moves could inadvertently increase trafficking.
The Assembly Minority Task Force recommends prioritizing anti-trafficking funding, reversing certain criminal justice reforms, and expanding public education and law enforcement training to improve identification and prosecution of traffickers.
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