What is the OCHTTF?
The Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) was founded in 2004 and is a collaboration of Law Enforcement, Non-Governmental Organizations, Faith Based Organizations, and the community. The purpose of the OCHTTF is to work together to protect victims, prosecute offenders, and prevent further perpetration of this crime in Orange County, CA.
Lead agencies include Westminster Police Department, CSP Inc. Victim Assistance Programs, Anaheim Police Department, Assistant United States Attorney, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), The Salvation Army, and Public Law Center.
What are the signs of Human Trafficking?
Human Trafficking or "modern day slavery" is a crime and a global phenomenon that involves obtaining or maintaining the labor or services of another person through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. These human rights violations can occur in the forms of commercial sex (sex trafficking) and forced labor such as domestic servitude, factory or agricultural work.
Indicators of human trafficking may include but are not limited to:
- General Indicators- Victims are not free to leave, and are being
forced to perform labor/services
- Physical Indicators- Victims may have tattoos indicating someone
else's ownership. Injuries/scars from abuse or assault
- Financial/Legal Indicators- Someone else has possession of the
victim's legal and/or travel documents. The victim is not receiving a fair wage for his/her work or owes money to his/her employer.
- Labor Camps/Sweatshops- Bars on windows; barbed wire surrounding
facility, doors that lock from the outside (Are the facilities security measures meant to keep people out or in?). Workers transported in groups and/or living together or with the employer.
- Sex Industry/Brothels- This could be a massage parlor, other place
of business, or a residence. There may be large amounts of cash and condoms on location; men come and go frequently and/or late at night.
Have there been any cases of Human Trafficking in Orange County, CA?
Yes, there have been Human Trafficking cases in Orange County and the (OCHTTF) served over 100 potential victims of trafficking from 2006-2009. One notable case prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office can be found here: Shyima's Story
Does the OCHTTF use Volunteers or Interns?
Yes. As a collaborative task force, OCHTTF also depends on local communities for help. For volunteer opportunities and requirements, please contact according to your interest:
OCHTTF Victim Services
OCHTTF Outreach & Education: Go to www.ochumantrafficking.org and click on ACTION LINE then complete the form to request information on volunteering in Orange County.
CSP Victim Assistance (sexual assault and all crimes except Human Trafficking):http://www.cspinc.org/getinvolved.html
You can also email us at: generalinfo@cspinc.org
Things to also include when contacting us re: volunteer opportunities
- Resume
- Possible Schedule
- How you heard about us
- Why you would like to volunteer and your area of interest
- Whether you speak another language (please specify)
Are OCHTTF meetings open to the public?
Yes, OCHTTF General Meetings are open to the public and usually held on the last Wednesday of the month at:
10:30-11:30AM
CSP Victim Assistance
1821 E. Dyer Road, Suite 200
Santa Ana, CA 92705
*Please refer to the current calendar for up-to-date information and schedule changes*
Can I interview a victim?
For client confidentiality, safety, and to preserve the integrity of any investigation, interviews are only allowed with the approval of the survivor, attorney, and victim assistance provider.
What's the difference between human smuggling and human trafficking?
The key distinction between trafficking and smuggling lies in the individual’s freedom of choice. A person may choose and arrange to be smuggled into a country, but when a person is forced into a situation of exploitation where their freedom is taken away, they are then a victim of human trafficking.
Human Smuggling is a crime against an international border and an evasion of immigration laws; Human Trafficking is a crime against people and a violation of human rights.
Please use our "Download Resources" link, or call 888.3737.888 for more information.
I'm doing a research paper about human trafficking. Who can I talk to?
For more information about human trafficking you can either look at our website and click on “Download Resources,” or go to “Action Line” and click on “Information.”
My church or club wants to be involved with the OC Human Trafficking Task Force. Where do we start?
The OCHTTF partners with many faith and community based groups. You can begin to be involved in several ways:
Come to an event or meeting
Request a community awareness speaker
Request volunteer information
Please visit our calendar for information about events to attend and/or search the calendar for upcoming events in your area.
To request a speaker, click on Action Line and complete the Request a Speaker Form. Please fill out the form as instructed and be as descriptive as possible with your request.
*Note. Requests to add event to calendar are subject to approval.
What happens when I call 888.3737.888?
The National Human Trafficking Resource Center is operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This national toll free hotline can help you determine whether you may have a case of human trafficking, identify local resources to assist victims, as well as request training and technical assistance, general information or specific anti-trafficking resources.
Dispatchers are available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week- in many languages.
The NHTRC is operated by HHS of Polaris Project, a non-profit, non-governmental organization and is currently a service provider under the HHS Federal Grant
NHTRC is not a law enforcement or immigration entity. However, information can be forwarded to law enforcement upon the caller’s request.
If reporting a potential trafficking tip, please specify the location of the activity, including city and county.
What are the elements of a good tip?
The most accurate way to help us identify whether or not you have observed a case of human trafficking is to be as descriptive as possible when giving your tip (Please see Signs of Human Trafficking)
I have called the 888 # and I have not heard anything back; now what?
Unless you request updates on the tip you have provided, our dispatchers will not notify you; if you still have not heard back from the dispatchers please feel free to call again.
How do I request a speaker?
To request a speaker, click on Action Line and complete the Request a Community Awareness Speaker form. Please fill out the form as instructed and be as descriptive as possible with your request.
Please Specify:
How many people will be attending the event?
What is the name of your organization?
What is the purpose of the event?
What are the times and date you would like for the event?
What is the difference between an Awareness event and Outreach?
Awareness events provide basic information about Human Trafficking to a group of people who attend at a specified meeting location, a community hall, school, church, or business.
Outreach activities take the information to the community and may include activities such as distributing “Look Beneath the Surface” posters to public places or providing a resource table at a neighborhood or community event not directly targeting human trafficking awareness.
I am a service provider, and I think one of my clients is a human trafficking victim. What do I do?
If you suspect you have a case of human trafficking, follow your agency protocol or speak to your supervisor regarding mandated reporting. If it is an emergency, please call 9-1-1. If it is not an emergency then please call 888.3737.888 and you will be assisted by a dispatcher, 24 hours a day, in any language needed. You will be given technical assistance, and referred to resources in your area.
Refer to FAQ’S information regarding 888#
How can I order Human Trafficking Awareness resources?
FREE Look Beneath the Surface materials such as posters, brochures, stickers and much more in many languages from Health and Human Services go to:www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/about/form.htm
Rescue & Restore Video Available Online
The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division's Look Beneath the Surface video is now available on YouTube in both English and Spanish. The video contains revised HHS footage and provides information on human trafficking and on how to identify and assist victims. We encourage you to show it during conferences, workshops, and training sessions to shed light on the horrors of human trafficking and to enlist other groups and individuals in anti-trafficking efforts. The video can be accessed via the following links:
English (13:20):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqyzW84I3Dc
Spanish (15:07):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzfwOM_9np8
