While Human Trafficking Awareness Month is wrapping up, the need for more eyes and ears on alert for this horrific crime continues all year long. Human trafficking occurs when force, fraud, or coercion is used to compel a person into sex acts, labor, or services against their will. One organization, Real Escape from the Sex Trade (REST), estimates that more than 2,000 women, men, and children are currently being exploited in the Puget Sound region.

Human trafficking is usually considered a hidden crime because it often happens in private settings. However, it can also happen in settings that, on the surface, appear legitimate. Because victims are manipulated, isolated, or fearful of seeking help, human trafficking often goes unreported. Read more.