January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Monday, January 19th, 2026 -- 12:01 PM

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

Wisconsin Stat. § 940.302 defines human trafficking as the recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining of an individual (or attempting to do so) for the purpose of labor, services, or commercial sex acts when done by a means defined in the statute, including but not limited to threats, extortion or fraud.

According to data provided by the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH), in 2024 the hotline received 277 contacts in Wisconsin. The NHTH reports that in 2024, 111 cases were opened in Wisconsin involving 181 victims, as cases can include multiple victims. The majority of the cases reported were sex trafficking of adult women.

According to NHTH, venues for sex trafficking in Wisconsin included illicit massage/spa businesses, hotels and motels, residences and other unspecified locations.

Venues for labor trafficking in Wisconsin reported to the NHTH included restaurants/food service, domestic work, hospitality and other unspecified locations.

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