Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit
In July of 2020 the GBI Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit (HEAT) was created and housed out of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The HEAT Unit focuses on enforcement efforts of commercial sex trafficking and labor trafficking as well as the safe recovery of trafficking victims. The HEAT Unit is comprised of Special Agents who investigate trafficking and work closely with state, local, and federal partners to tackle the issue in victim-centered, multi-disciplinary, and collaborative ways.
The HEAT Unit also relies on assistance from Non-Governmental organizations (NGO) who specialize in providing services to victims of human trafficking to ensure their safety and well-being as an effort to perform victim-centered investigations for best outcomes.
It is estimated that there are 1.5 million human trafficking victims in the United States, most of which are children. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has named Atlanta as one of the top fourteen cities with abnormally high rates of human trafficking. However, the issue is not limited to Atlanta. Human trafficking is taking place in every corner of the state of Georgia.
Are you or someone you know being sold for sex or made/forced to work for little or no pay and cannot leave?
Contact the Georgia Coalition to Combat Human Trafficking Tip Line
If you suspect human trafficking is taking place in your community, please contact the statewide 24 -Hour Georgia Coalition to Combat Human Trafficking Tip Line at 1-866-ENDHTGA (1-866-363-4842) or the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888 for help.
All victims of slavery and human trafficking have rights and are protected by international, federal, and state law. The hotline is:
- Anonymous and confidential
- Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Able to provide help, referral to services, training, and general information
- Accessible in 170 languages
- Operated by a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization
- Toll free
Primary: 1-866-ENDHTGA (866) 363-4842
www.endhtga.org
CALL 911 IF SOMEONE IS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER!
Crimes Against Disabled and Elderly Task Force
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit also collaborates with the Crimes Against Disable and Elderly Task Force, which was created in cooperation with the Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Aging Services (DAS) Forensic Special Initiatives Unit (FSIU). FSIU’s designated staff handles most of the education, outreach, and training programs found in GA for primary and secondary responders, including law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, EMS, employees of financial institutions, regulatory/protective/social/victim service agencies, key healthcare providers, coroners, medical examiners, and other professions who respond to the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of at-risk adults.
Combining the efforts of FSIU with the GBI toward the prevention, detection, and protection of at-risk adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation, creates more efficient and effective state government operations and will better ensure the gaps in such operations are identified and addressed. This collaborative effort between FSIU and the GBI has shown that through these efforts, the number of perpetrators arrested each year continues to increase.
Contact Adult Protective Services (APS) to protect Georgia’s at-risk adults
If you suspect abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation in the community or in a residential environment, you can file a report. Reporting is kept confidential within the parameters of state law.
General public or mandated reporter:
Primary: 1-866-55AGING (1-866-552-4464) and press “3”.
General Public File a Complaint
Healthcare facilities:
Primary: 1-800-878-6442
HFRD File a Complaint