MELISSA M. LABRIOLA, NASTASSIA REED, ANNA WHITE HEWITT
Literature Review on a
Victim-Centered Approach
to Countering Human
Trafficking
T
he 2021 U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary’s memo to DHS agency
and office leaders describes the need to institutionalize a victim-centered approach,
described as an “approach, which recognizes that restoring victims’ security and autonomy
benefits both victims and law enforcement. A victim-centered approach seeks to minimize
C O R P O R A T I O N
KEY FINDINGS
■ A victim-centered approach is centered in a culture of continuous learning and collaboration.
■ Most victim identification screening tools are implemented in clinical settings by clinical pro-
viders or social workers.
■ Understanding the risk factors, understanding how an individual’s exposure to trauma affects
cognition, and recognizing common symptoms of trauma can inform agents in their daily work.
■ Building a workforce capable of using trauma-informed and victim-centered approaches
relies on effective training programs to build knowledge, capacity, and skills.
■ Key skills to develop through training include avoiding retraumatization, building relationships
with survivors, working with a diverse population, and conducting effective interviews with
survivors.
■ During training, alternatives to standard lectures can be valuable to encourage participation
and skill retention.
■ Implementation of a victim-centered approach requires organizational change and an over-
arching framework that affects every step and person within the system.
■ The depth of knowledge about human trafficking, including prevalence rates and successful
intervention methods, points to the difficulties in operationalizing an evidence-based, victim-
centered approach.
Research Report
C O R P O R A T I O N
Research Report
