Human trafficking has become a global epidemic and is expected to surpass the drug and arms business in years to come. This places it as the fastest growing criminal industry in the world, with individuals trafficked for many purposes including but not limited to sexual exploitation, forced labor, servitude, and organ/tissue removal. Human trafficking has many forms, and purposes; and men, women, and children are all targeted. Worldwide, more than 20 million people are thought to be affected by this modern-day slavery (Byrne, Parsh, and Ghilain, 2017). There is a large gap between the number of victims affected and how many offenders are actually caught and convicted each year. Results from studies suggest that even after a successful prosecution different factors play a role in sentencing severity (Farrell, et al., 2016). The study seeks to find variables that affect sentencing outcomes in human trafficking cases. These factors include region of prosecution, purpose of trafficking, the complexity of the trafficking organization, and the complicity of government officials.
