REPORTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN FLORIDA

Reporting Trafficking in Minors and Vulnerable Adults

Trafficking in minors (under the age of 18), including child sex or labor trafficking, is a form of child abuse and maltreatment, and any citizen who suspects child abuse must make a report to the Department of Children and Families (see “Making a Report” below). Reporters who feel that a child is in imminent danger should call the police first.

The legal definition of vulnerable adult in Florida is “a person age 18 years or older who has a disability or is suffering from the infirmities of aging.” These adults are unable to perform activities of daily living or provide for their own care or protection because they are impaired due to disability, brain damage, or infirmity. Any person who has a reasonable cause to suspect abuse of a vulnerable adult must make a report to the Florida Abuse Hotline (see “Making a Report” below). Reporters who feel that a vulnerable adult is in imminent danger should call the police first (FL DCF, 2019).

PROFESSIONAL MANDATED REPORTERS

Professional mandated reporters in Florida who are required to give their name when they report include:

• Physician, osteopathic physician, medical examiner, chiropractic physician, nurse, or hospital personnel engaged in the admission, examination, care, or treatment of persons
• Health or mental health professional other than one listed above
• Practitioner who relies solely on spiritual means for healing
• School teacher or other school official or personnel
• Social worker, day care center worker, or other professional childcare, foster care, residential, or institutional worker
• Law enforcement officer
• Judge

Mandated reporters should make a report immediately to the Department of Children and Families if they have a reasonable suspicion that a child or a vulnerable adult is suffering from abuse or neglect, including human trafficking. Although the mandated reporter is required to give their name, all reports are confidential.

Mandated reporters who knowingly and willfully fail to report abuse or neglect may be charged with a third-degree felony and may be sentenced up to 5 years in prison and fined up to $5,000. Educational institutions that fail to report child abuse related to institutional events may be fined up to $1 million for each failure to report abuse or neglect.

MAKING A REPORT

A report of suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult is made by immediately calling, faxing, or reporting online to the Florida Abuse Hotline. The hotline screens all reports and will initiate an investigation to determine risk to the victim (FL DCF, 2019).

There are four ways to make a report of suspected human trafficking in Florida:

• Telephone: 800-96-ABUSE (800-962-2873)
• Fax: 800-914-0004
• TDD: 800-955-8771
• Online: See “Florida Abuse Hotline” in the “Resources” section at the end of this course

The following information is included in a report of human trafficking for a child or vulnerable adult:

• Name, occupation, agency, phone, and address of the reporting party (if the reporter is a professionally mandated reporter; all other reporters may choose to remain anonymous)
• Name of the victim
• Complete address and telephone number, including area code, of the victim
• Estimated or actual date of birth of the victim
• Gender, race, and social security number of the victim
• Names and birthdates of other children in the home
• Name, date of birth, gender, race, social security number of a person suspected of abuse or exploitation
• A brief description of the concern and any injuries sustained by the victim, including when and where the incident occurred, frequency of occurrence, and threat of harm
• Names of others who might be aware of the abuse or exploitation of the victim and their relationship to the victim
• The name and contact information of the victim’s parent or guardian, as well as other adults residing in the home
• A brief description of the victim's disability or infirmity (required for vulnerable adults)
• The relationship of the suspect to the victim
  (FLDCF, 2019)

Reporting Trafficking in Competent Adults

In Florida, competent adult victims of human trafficking have the rights to privacy and agency. Mandated reporters may not report suspected human trafficking to law enforcement without a victim’s consent, and to do so without their specific consent could lead to civil action against the reporter.

Healthcare providers may counsel competent adult human trafficking victims and refer them to law enforcement and pertinent services. They may also make a confidential report to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center by calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 (see box below) (FL DCF, 2019).

(See also “Resources” at the end of this course.)