Human trafficking in South Carolina

A study released by Clemson University researchers shows human trafficking in South Carolina may be more prevalent than previously thought.  Professor Mark Small, research team leader, says nearly 20% of past kidnapping and prostitution files analyzed from police incident reports in Greenville County over a three-year period (2010-12) had markers indicating the presence of human trafficking.  Historically, human trafficking was viewed as a problem of smuggling and illegal migration, but it more recently has been seen as a problem of commercial sexual exploitation—especially of minors, and of forced labor.  According to Small, “There is a great deal of interest in addressing the problem of human trafficking in South Carolina, but very little data on prevalence and severity of the problem.”  The state only recently passed legislation criminalizing human trafficking.