Responding to Child Victims of Human Trafficking - Iowa

Date: December 2018

State Agency Responsibilities

Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 232.70(10); 232.71B

If the Department of Human Services has reasonable cause to believe that a child under the placement, care, or supervision of the department is, or is at risk of becoming, a sex trafficking victim, the department shall do all of the following:

  • Identify the child as a sex trafficking victim or at risk of becoming a sex trafficking victim and include documentation in the child's department records
  • Refer the child for appropriate services
  • Refer the child identified as a sex trafficking victim, within 24 hours, to the appropriate law enforcement agency having jurisdiction to investigate the allegation

The department shall report a child under the placement, care, or supervision of the department who is reported as missing or abducted to law enforcement and to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children within 24 of receipt of the report.

Training Requirement

Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 710A.6; 80B.11

The Crime Victim Assistance Division of the Department of Justice, in cooperation with other governmental agencies and nongovernmental or community organizations, shall develop and conduct outreach, public awareness, and training programs for the general public, law enforcement agencies, first responders, potential victims, and persons conducting or regularly dealing with businesses or other ventures that have a high statistical incidence of debt bondage or forced labor or services. The programs shall train participants to recognize and report incidents of human trafficking and to suppress the demand that fosters exploitation of persons and leads to human trafficking.

The director of the Law Enforcement Academy shall promulgate rules relative to training standards on the subject of human trafficking, including curricula on cultural sensitivity and the means to deal effectively and appropriately with trafficking victims. Such training shall encourage law enforcement personnel to communicate in the language of the trafficking victims. The course of instruction and training standards shall be developed by the director in consultation with the appropriate national and State experts in the field of human trafficking.

Diversion From Prosecution

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 725.1

If the person who sells or offers for sale the person's services as a partner in a sex act is younger than age 18, the county attorney may elect, in lieu of filing a petition alleging that the person has committed a delinquent act, to refer that person to the Department of Human Services for the possible filing of a petition alleging that the person is a child in need of assistance.

Services and Supports for Victims

This issue is not addressed in the statutes and regulations reviewed.

Support for Anti-Trafficking Efforts

This issue is not addressed in the statutes and regulations reviewed.

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