Human Trafficking Test I

Human Trafficking

The illegal trade of people through force, fraud, or coercion for labor or sex.

Victim

A person who has been exploited or forced into trafficking.

Exploitation

Taking unfair advantage of someone for money, labor, or sex.

Recruitment

Luring or tricking people into trafficking situations.

Transportation

Moving victims from one place to another, often across borders.

Harboring

Hiding or sheltering victims to control them.

Force

Physical violence or threats used to control them.

Fraud

Lies or false promises used to trick someone into trafficking.

Coercion

Pressure or threats (emotional, financial, or physical) to force someone to comply.

Traffickers

People who exploit others for profit. They can be any demographic. individuals and groups, street gangs and organized crime, businesses or contractors.

Pimp

A person who controls and financially benefits from the commercial sexual exploitation of another person. The relationship can be abusive and possessive, with the pimp using manipulation and control techniques.

Pimp Partner

Two pimps who are friends and allow their victims to work together.

Quota

A set amount of money that a trafficking victim must make each night before she can come “home.” Quotas are often set between $300 and $2000. Quotas vary according to geographic region, local events, etc.

Serving A Pimp

The actual phone call one pimp makes to another after “taking” his victim.

Squaring Up

Attempting to escape or exit prostitution.

Stable

A group of victims who are under the control of a single pimp.

Automatic

A term denoting the victim’s “automatic” routine when her pimp is out of town, in jail, or otherwise not in direct context with those he is prostituting.

Bottom/ Bottom Bitch

female “right hand,” appointed by the trafficker/pimp to supervise the others and report rule violations. may help instruct victims, collect money, book hotel rooms, post ads, or inflict punishments on other girls. Is subjected to the most physical abuse and the one most likely to be killed by the pimp.

Branding

A tattoo or carving on a victim that indicates ownership by a trafficker/pimp/gang.

Brothel / Cathouse

Any facility where sex is sold on the premises. These establishments may be apartments, houses, or trailers. Could be in a rural area or nice neighborhood.

Caught A Case

A term that refers to when a pimp or victim has been arrested and charged with a crime.

Seasoning

Abuse that is designed to break down a victim’s resistance and ensure compliance.Psychological manipulation, intimidation, gang rape, sodomy, beatings, deprivation of food or sleep, isolation from friends or family and other sources of support and threatening or holding hostage of a victim’s children.

Reckless Eyeballing

the act of looking around instead of keeping your eyes on the ground. Is against the rules and could lead an untrained victim to “choose up” by mistake.

Renegade

A person involved in prostitution without a pimp.

Choosing Up

The process by which a different pimp takes “ownership” of a victim. According to traditional pimping rules, when a victim makes eye contact with another pimp (accidentally or on purpose), she is choosing him to be her pimp.

Circuit

A series of cities among which prostituted people are moved. EX: West Coast circuit of San Diego, Las Vegas, Portland, and the cities in between. The term can also refer to a chain of states such as the “Minnesota pipeline” by which victims are moved through a series of locations from Minnesota to markets in New York.

“John”

An individual who pays for or trades something of value for sexual acts.

Lot Lizard

Derogatory term for a person who is being prostituted at truck stops.

Fender Lizard

“A chick that will do anything to get on the back of a guys motorcycle.” A bike prostitute.

Madam

An older woman who manages a brothel, escort service or other prostitution establishment. She may work alone or in collaboration with other traffickers.

Coercion

Threats or perceived threats of serious harm to or physical constraints against any person; a scheme intended to cause a person to believe that failure to perform will result in serious harm to or physical restraint against any person.

Commercial Sex Act

Any sex act on account of which anything of value is given to or received by any person.

Track (a/k/a Stroll or Blade)

An area of town known for prostitution activity. This can be the area around a group of strip clubs and pornography stores, or a particular stretch of street.

Trade Up/Trade Down

To move a victim like merchandise between pimps. A pimp may trade one girl for another or trade with some exchange of money.

Trick

Committing an act of prostitution, or the person buying it. A victim is said to be “turning a trick” or “with a trick.”

Cousin-in-Laws

Victims of pimp partners who work together.

Daddy

The term a pimp will often require his victim to call him.

Date

The exchange when prostitution takes place, or the activity of prostitution. A victim is said to be “with a ___” or” ___ing”

Exit Fee

The money a pimp will demand from a victim who is thinking about trying to leave. It will be an exorbitant sum, to discourage her from leaving. Most pimps never let their victims leave freely.

Head Cut

A victim getting beaten down by their pimp.

Human Smuggling

The facilitation, transportation, attempted transportation, or illegal entry of a person or persons across an international border, in violation of one or more countries’ laws, either clandestinely or through deception, such as the use of fraudulent documents.

In-Pocket

Not paying any other pimp than the one controlling the victim. Not speaking to any other pimp.

Kiddie Stroll

An area known for prostitution that features younger victims.

Loose Bitch

a victim who keeps choosing different pimps.

Turn Out

To be forced into prostitution or a person newly involved in prostitution.

Out of Pocket

The phrase describing when a victim is not under control of a pimp but working on a pimp-controlled track, leaving her vulnerable to threats, harassment, and violence in order to make her “choose” a pimp. This may also refer to a victim who is disobeying the pimp’s rules.

Family/Folks

The term used to describe the other individuals under the control of the same pimp. He plays the role of father (or “Daddy”) while the group fulfills the need for a “family.”

Pimp Circle

When several pimps encircle a victim to intimidate through verbal and physical threats in order to discipline the victim or force her to choose up.

Labor Trafficking

Forcing someone to work against their will.

Sex Trafficking

Forcing someone to perform sexual acts for profit.

Domestic Servitude

Forcing someone to work inside a home, such as cleaning or childcare, under abusive control.

Debt Bondage

Forcing someone to work to pay off a debt that never ends.

Child Trafficking

Trafficking involving children, who are always considered victims even without proof of force, fraud, or coercion.

Grooming

Gaining someone’s trust to later exploit them.

Isolation

Cutting victims off from friends, family, or help.

Confiscation

Taking away identification, money, or travel documents.

Psychological Manipulation

Using fear, shame, or lies to control someone.

Physical Abuse

Violence or threats used to maintain control.