Anti-Human Trafficking Interagency Collaboration in the State of Michigan: An Exploratory Study

Authors: Jones, Tonisha & Lutze, Faith

Abstract: In recent years, there has been increased recognition that public, private, and nongovernmental agencies must work collaboratively to effectively respond to the crime of human trafficking. Despite this recognition, limited empirical research exists that examines the topic of anti-human-trafficking interagency collaboration. This study examines (a) the types of agencies engaged in anti-human-trafficking interagency collaborative efforts, and (b) the characteristics of such interagency collaborative activities in the state of Michigan. The results show that many agencies in criminal justice, human/social services, victim services, and allied agencies do not participate in interagency collaboration related to human trafficking. For those that do, the types of formal collaborative activities engaged in are severely limited and tend to be concentrated in just a few areas. Future research directions and policy implications are discussed.

Keywords: human trafficking, interagency collaboration