Abstract
Human trafficking remains one of the most pervasive criminal activities worldwide, including in the United States. Much of the research on human trafficking in the U.S. has been limited, focusing primarily on individual-level factors, providing victim assistance, or with a few exceptions, examining the role of structural characteristics on human trafficking in a particular city or state. Guided by insights from social disorganization, routine activities, and push-pull migration theories, this study investigates the impact social structural factors have on human trafficking rates for states. Data from the National Trafficking Hotline, the American Community Survey, and other secondary data sources for 2018 are analyzed using OLS regression. Results reveal that resource disadvantage, population instability, and the routine activities factor exert positive and statistically significant influences on human trafficking rates in U.S. states. Limitations and areas for future research are discussed.
