Hidden in Plain Sight: America's Slaves of the New Millennium

(Hardback)

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Description

Pimp-controlled sex workers, exploited migrants, domestic servants, and sex trafficking of runaway and homeless youth are just a few of the many forms of sex trafficking and labor trafficking going on all around the worldincluding in the United States. This book exposes both well-known and more obscure forms of human trafficking, documenting how these heinous crimes are encountered in our daily lives. What types of human trafficking crimes are being committed here in the United States Who are the victims of traffickers How do we all unknowingly consume the services and products of slavery And why are human traffickers able to maintain their illicit operations with relative impunityindeed, with less than .01 percent of human traffickers ever being held accountable for their crimes Hidden in Plain Sight: America's Slaves of the New Millennium documents how human trafficking and its byproducts touch every community in America, from impoverished inner-city neighborhoods to middle-class suburbs and alcoves of wealthy estates. It presents information derived from narrative accounts of real-life trafficking cases, interviews with convicted human traffickers, empirical research, and criminal case files to expose the grim realities of human trafficking in America, perpetrated by Americans. Readers will grasp the origins, evolution, and extent of the problem; understand how trafficking plays an unrecognized role in our day-to-day lives; and see why advancements in awareness and anti-trafficking resources have not changed the status quo. The victims of trafficking continue to be criminalized by law enforcement, and the offenders continue to exploit and profit from new recruits. This book equips readers with the knowledge needed to identify human trafficking cases and advocate for policy changes to end this scourge in America.

Reviews

A brief but exhaustive debut book looks at human trafficking. . . . [Mehlman-Orozco's] meticulous research is based not only on a survey of the available literature, but also on her own interviews with victims, perpetrators of human trafficking, and the consumers who patronize their businesses. [Her] prose is both lucid and emotionally stirring, and she often illustrates her points with personal anecdotes to paint a picture that transcends statistical analysis. The subject matter can be disturbingthe chapter devoted to child sex tourism is particularly harrowingbut she navigates that dark terrain with grace and professionalism. She helpfully suggests a number of ways the response from law enforcement could be greatly improved, including empowering otherwise disenfranchised victims to come forward. An intellectually rigorous and emotionally affecting account of modern enslavement. * Kirkus Reviews *
We strongly believe that this is an essential resource for anyone eager to spread awareness and take action. . . . The brilliance behind this book rests in how Mehlman-Orozco manages to give light to the complexities that surround modern-slavery in America. . . . After reading Hidden in Plain Sight, readers will not only understand the urgency of this situation but the importance of providing sustainable solutions and resources for victims of modern-slavery, so that the endless cycle of exploitation can be stopped. This book makes it clear that we can change what is happening in plain sight all around us if we only have the courage to look. * Dressember *

Author Bio

Kimberly Mehlman-Orozco holds a doctorate in criminology, law, and society from George Mason University, with an expertise in human trafficking.