Responding to Child Victims of Human Trafficking - New Jersey
State Agency Responsibilities
Citation: Child. & Fam. Pol. Man. VIII-C-1-100
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is committed to combating human trafficking (also known as forced labor and sexual exploitation). The Child Protection and Permanency Division (CP&P) is committed to combating human trafficking and ensuring that youth and adolescent victims receive the appropriate care, treatment, and services needed to heal and recover.
Through a multidisciplinary approach, CP&P shall work with law enforcement, health-care providers, community organizations, and other interested parties to support human trafficking awareness, prevention, and service programming. CP&P also shall participate in the coordinated efforts with local, State, and Federal entities.
CP&P shall work to ensure that youth and adolescent victims of human trafficking gain permanency through reunifying them with their families or fostering new family and supportive connections.
Within 24 hours of receiving information on or identifying a youth as a victim of human trafficking, CP&P shall ensure that reports are made to the New Jersey State Police and other law enforcement as directed by the Division of Law or police.
Training Requirement
Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 2C:13-12; 52:4B-47; Admin. Code §§ 3A:50-4.3; 3A:55-5.4; 3A:56-5.4; Child. & Fam. Pol. Man. VIII-C-1-100
The Police Training Commission shall develop and approve, as part of required police training, courses of study on the handling, response procedures, investigation, and prosecution of human trafficking cases. The Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Commission on Human Trafficking, shall develop, approve, and provide for a one-time training course on the handling and response procedures of suspected human trafficking activities for owners, operators, and staff of hotels and motels.
The Department of Health, in consultation with the Commission on Human Trafficking, shall develop, approve, and provide for a one-time training course on the handling and response procedures of suspected human trafficking activities for employees of every licensed health-care facility. The department shall be responsible for ensuring that all required employees of licensed health-care facilities attend the one-time training course within 6 months of the first day of employment for all new employees. The department shall make the training materials available to required employees in order for the required employees to fulfill the one-time training requirement.
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) shall develop and approve a training course and a curriculum to raise awareness of judges and judicial personnel on the seriousness of the crime of human trafficking; its impact on human rights; and the need to adequately implement anti-trafficking laws, including not only the prosecution and sentencing of defendants charged with human trafficking but the need to respect the needs and restore the rights of victims of human trafficking. The AOC shall make the training course, curriculum, and supporting materials available to appropriate judges and judicial personnel who may be involved with the court-related aspects of human trafficking prosecutions through annual inservice judicial training programs or other means.
The curriculum for police training courses shall include training on responding to the needs of crime victims and specific training on responding to the needs of victims of human trafficking and on services available to provide assistance, including information on Federal, State, and local hotlines available to receive reports of and provide assistance to victims of human trafficking. Inservice training shall be made available for police officers, assistant prosecutors, county detectives, and investigators on the specialized needs of crime victims and available services.
In regulation: An adoption agency shall provide training to staff members and ensure they are aware of recognizing and preventing child sex and labor trafficking. A residential child care facility shall provide training to staff each year on human trafficking. A children's group home shall provide training to staff on preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect, including physical, sexual, and emotional child abuse and neglect, and human trafficking.
In policy: DCF shall provide human trafficking trainings for child welfare professionals, specifically DCF staff and child protective field workers, through the Office of Training and Professional Development.
Diversion From Prosecution
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 2C:13-8
It is an affirmative defense to prosecution for a violation of this section that, during the time of the alleged commission of the offense of human trafficking, the defendant was a victim of human trafficking.
Services and Supports for Victims
Citation: Child. & Fam. Pol. Man. VIII-C-1-100
CP&P shall offer services to human trafficking victims that are trauma focused, strengths based, culturally sensitive, gender and developmentally appropriate, and informed by comprehensive evaluation that includes physical and mental health assessments. Services may include the following:
- Permanency or temporary placements
- Medical and mental health treatment
- Reproductive and sexual health services
- Dietary and nutrition services
- Substance use disorder treatment
- Referral to immigration services and assistance obtaining a T visa or other immigration approvals as appropriate
CP&P shall assist youth and adolescent victims of human trafficking in accessing medical and health assistance, public housing, and other Federal and State assistance for which they are eligible as human trafficking victims.
Support for Anti-Trafficking Efforts
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 52:17B-238
The 'Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund' is a separate, nonlapsing, dedicated fund in the general fund that is administered by the attorney general. All monies deposited in the fund shall be used for the provision of services to victims of human trafficking; to promote awareness of human trafficking; to fund the development, maintenance, revision, and distribution of training courses and other educational materials; and provide for the operation of educational or training programs.