Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States. In Texas, the problem is urgent. Between 2017 and 2021, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received more than 14,000 reports from Texas. During that time, only 37% of Texas counties reported arrests for trafficking, and just 15% reported convictions.
Those numbers tell a simple story: traffickers are exploiting the gaps.
At the Human Trafficking Institute, we exist to close those gaps by strengthening enforcement, so traffickers face justice and victims are protected. With the launch of HTI Texas, we are bringing our proven model—already transforming justice systems abroad—to the Lone Star State. We want trafficking to become so costly that word among traffickers travels fast: “Don’t mess with Texans.”
Why Texas
Texas is #1 per capita in child exploitation, but our vision is to partner with the state to deliver the highest impact anti-trafficking intervention in the nation. Texas is uniquely positioned for impact. It has strong anti-trafficking laws, a statewide commitment to improving enforcement, and excellent survivor service providers. However, traffickers still operate unchecked. That’s where HTI Texas comes in.
We analyzed data from all 254 counties and identified the regions where the need is greatest. We are now launching partnerships in five counties, with plans to expand to a total of 25 counties in the coming years.
How HTI Texas Works
HTI Texas equips prosecutors, law enforcement, and frontline stakeholders with the tools they need to investigate cases and convict traffickers. Our approach is practical, data-driven, and built for sustainability.
- Specialized Training: Multi-day, interactive training sessions for hundreds of prosecutors, investigators, and law enforcement officers. These sessions focus on real-world casework, evidence gathering, and courtroom advocacy.
- County Partnerships: Each partner county becomes an enforcement hub. We tailor interventions to local needs, ensuring communities get strategies that work where they are.
- Ongoing Mentorship: Training is only the beginning. Our experts continue walking alongside local partners with follow-up workshops, case advising, and access to resources through a practitioner portal.
- Scaling Statewide: Within 5 years, HTI Texas will engage with more than 10,000 police and prosecutors, building a network of specialized enforcement across the state.
Proven Results, New Opportunity
This model works. HTI’s program in Uganda has driven a 1,466% increase in trafficking prosecutions over five years, making the country a global leader in enforcement. The same strategies can transform outcomes here in Texas.
Each trafficker stopped means current victims are freed and countless future victims are spared. Each conviction sends a message of deterrence that ripples outward, making communities safer.
Lighting the Way Forward
Our vision is bold: Texas will not only improve its own response to trafficking, it will become a national model for enforcement-focused solutions.
Together, we have the chance to change the trajectory of trafficking in Texas. By strengthening enforcement where traffickers thrive, we can protect victims, deter exploitation, and build safer communities across the state. Your support fuels this work. Stand with us as we launch HTI Texas, and help light the way for the nation.
