NO ONE IS IMMUNE. THIS IS HAPPENING IN EVERY SINGLE STATE IN AMERICA.
A Child is defined as anyone under the age of 18.
In the United States, over 800,000 children are reported missing each year, and another 500,000 go missing without being reported. This means that a child goes missing in the U.S. every 40 seconds. The FBI estimates that 85–90% of missing children reports are children. Most reports of missing children are resolved within hours. However, many children go missing permanently or for an extended period of time.
Sources: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Child Crime Prevention & Safety Center
Child Watch of North America, and Global Missing Children's Network.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
TENNESSEE
WHAT WE KNOW
The above graph identifies the number of hotline calls and tips received by the TBI's (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) human trafficking team between 2019 and 2024. These leads were received from across the entire state of Tennessee. All totals are for calendar year as of November 17, 2024.
The above graph splits the figures into regions, highlighting which areas are generating the most tips and calls. All totals are for calendar year as of November 17, 2024.
In addition to tracking where tips and leads are generated from within the state of Tennessee, the above graph shows the type of trafficking reported. Over the course of the last 8 years, minor sex trafficking reports have dramatically increased from 66 in 2016 to surpassing 600 by 2021. All totals are for calendar year as of November 17, 2024.
The above graph identifies tips that fall under human trafficking. Those that have a HT nexus are where the age of the victim is unknown. In 2024, minor sex trafficking tips and leads far exceeds the other forms of trafficking reported. As can be seen above, there are 514 reports of minor sex trafficking as of November 17, 2024. The vast majority of tips that come into the TBI regarding Human Trafficking are via social service organizations/advocates. All totals are for calendar year as of November 17, 2024.
The above graph identifies the age of victims. The TBI's HTU receives tips regarding potential victims within the state of Tennessee across all ages. Monir victims are tracked with the most specificity and range in age from 5 months to 17 years old. The chart above shows the breakdown of tips by age of victim based on tips received in 2024. The majority of tips dealing with minor victims (45%) involve children between the ages of 13 and 17 years old. It should be noted that 47% of all the tips received by the TBI HTU involving minors originate with DCS/CPS. All totals are for calendar year as of November 17, 2024.
ADDITIONAL FACTS/FIGURES
Online Escort Ads
When conducting operations or seeking information on potential trafficking victims, TBI HTU researches a wide range of sex advertisement websites. Concerning the number of ads posted statewide in 2024, there were 385,924 ads from 82,329 profiles. Though this is a massive number, it is important to note that not all sex advertisements involve possible trafficking victims. Regardless of the exact accuracy of the number of results, the HTU monitor posts regularly with extreme detail to identify possible trafficking victims.
Missing Children
While not all missing children are trafficking victims, the runaway population is particularly vulnerable to exploitation. These children are often without the basic needs such as food and shelter. Due to their age, circumstances, and needs, they are vulnerable to manipulation and force that often can lead to being in a trafficking situation.
Source: HTSR TN Governor's Brief
Why so vulnerable?
Several factors make the region attractive to traffickers:
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Interstate highways (I-40, I-75, I-81) provide easy transportation across state lines.
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High tourism areas, including Sevier County, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and the Smoky Mountains, bring millions of visitors each year, creating opportunities for traffickers to hide among legitimate travel and hospitality activity.
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Hotels, short-term rentals, and online platforms can be exploited to advertise or facilitate trafficking.
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Economic hardship, addiction, homelessness, family instability, and prior abuse can increase vulnerability to exploitation.
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Human trafficking investigations have occurred throughout East Tennessee, with notable activity in:
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Knox County
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Sevier County
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Hamilton County
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Sullivan County
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Carter County
Research has identified Knox, Sevier, and Carter counties as among those reporting relatively high numbers of trafficking incidents within East Tennessee.
