The NHTRC frequently receives tips related to potential trafficking victims, suspicious behaviors, and/or locations where trafficking is suspected to occur.   These reports may involve potential labor or sex trafficking situations, adults or minors, foreign nationals or US citizens, males or females.

After receiving a tip, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) team jointly conducts a thorough internal review process to determine appropriate next steps.  Urgent tips and tips involving minors are processed immediately following the call, 24 hours a day/7 days a week; all other tips are reviewed daily by NHTRC supervisors and regional specialists.

The NHTRC’s response to a report of potential human trafficking may involve any of the following actions: reconnecting with the caller to elicit further information (with the caller’s consent); referring the caller to a local anti-trafficking organization or hotline; reporting the tip directly to a local anti-trafficking organization, coalition, task force, or law enforcement agent (this may include local, state or federal). 

The NHTRC is not an investigative agency.  All potential trafficking tips received by the NHTRC are reviewed by hotline supervisors and regional specialists before being passed on to the appropriate local, state, or federal investigative and/or service agency equipped to investigate the tip and/or respond to the needs of the potential victim.  Tips lacking in concrete information pertaining to potential trafficking situations may not be reported by the NHTRC. 

Please note that the NHTRC cannot provide updates regarding the status of any reported cases.

Reporting to Law Enforcement

Each tip is unique and reporting decisions are made on a case-by-case basis following the NHTRC’s local reporting and referral protocols.  Prior to reporting, the NHTRC will consider the needs and stated preferences of the caller as a primary consideration.  Additional considerations include: the specificity of the information provided, the presence of indicators of severe forms of trafficking in persons, the involvement of minors, and the anti-trafficking services and law enforcement available in the caller’s area.  The preferences, when known, of the potential victims involved will also be taken as a primary consideration.

Reporting protocols in a given area may vary significantly depending on type of trafficking (sex, labor), age and nationality of the potential victims referenced (foreign nationals, U.S. citizens, adults, minors), urgency of the situation, and the location of the tip.

Confidentiality Policy

The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) strives to abide by the highest ethical standards regarding confidentiality.  Calls received by the NHTRC are always confidential to the extent permitted by law.  A caller may choose to remain anonymous for any reason.  The NHTRC does not release any identifying information about a caller, and will not confirm that a specific individual has/has not called the hotline, unless the caller provides the NHTRC with his/her explicit consent.  The NHTRC can report cases to law enforcement on behalf of callers who wish to remain anonymous.  The NHTRC will inform the appropriate authorities of situations that reference the suspected abuse of a minor, potential harm to the caller or others, or situations where the NHTRC is required by law to report.