The Polaris Project annual state ratings process tracks the presence or absence of 10 categories of state statutes that Polaris Project believes are critical to a comprehensive anti-trafficking legal framework.
2011 State Ratings Map
These 10 categories are not exhaustive of all the important legislation that helps combat human trafficking in a given state. The ratings used to evaluate states do not assess the effectiveness or implementation of these laws, nor the anti-trafficking efforts of task forces, law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, service providers, and advocates in the state.
To download a copy of the 2011 state ratings map, state ratings chart, and a methodology document please click here. To download an individual state report please click here.
2011 State Reports
Please click on the link below for your individual state report which lists the statute(s) your state received credit for. This list is not necessarily exhaustive of all of the laws against human trafficking in each state, and only includes the laws from the 10 categories that we track for the state ratings map.For guidelines and examples of bill language, please consult Polaris Project’s Model Provisions of Comprehensive State Legislation to Combat Human Trafficking and Commentary. If you need technical assistance in enacting laws to fill in the gaps, please contact the Polaris Project Policy Program at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
State Ratings Statistics
Polaris Project began tracking and mapping the progress of state anti-trafficking laws in 2007 when only 28 states had anti-trafficking criminal statutes.
The number of states with anti-trafficking criminal statutes has grown to 45 with sex trafficking offenses and 48 with labor trafficking offenses as of August 24, 2011.
Overall, the landscape of state laws has shifted from one where only a third of the states (17) were rated in the top two categories in 2010 to one where slightly more than half of the states (27) are rated in the top two categories.
While states are making progress, twenty-four (24) states still remain in the bottom two categories of orange and red.
Eleven (11) states are now rated with the highest rating of green (7-9 statutes), including:
| 1. | California |
| 2. | Connecticut |
| 3. | Florida |
| 4. | Georgia (New in 2011) |
| 5. | Illinois (New in 2011) |
| 6. | Minnesota |
| 7. | Missouri (New in 2011) |
| 8. | New York (New in 2011) |
| 9. | Texas |
| 10. | Vermont (New in 2011) |
| 11. | Washington |
Last year (2010) found the bottom tier of states labeled the “Dirty Dozen,” a group of twelve states with 0-2 statutes addressing human trafficking. This year, only nine (9) states remain in this bottom tier – the “Nine Lagging Behind,” which includes:
| 1. | Alaska |
| 2. | Arkansas |
| 3. | Colorado |
| 4. | Massachusetts |
| 5. | Montana |
| 6. | South Carolina |
| 7. | South Dakota |
| 8. | West Virginia |
| 9. | Wyoming |
State Criminal Statutes of 2011
For a list of your state's criminal codes related to human trafficking as well as links to the full statutes, click here. For additional information related to your state, visit our State-by-State Resources Page.
