| Human trafficking is the fastest growing illegal trade and a major threat to national and human security. In 2000, the United States passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), acknowledging that modern day slavery exists both globally and within the US. Therein the federal government outlined its Four P's action plan to eradicate human trafficking: Partnership, Prevention, Protection, and Prosecution. Federal efforts have increased the protection of human trafficking survivors and the prosecution of human traffickers. However, human trafficking continues to have significant impacts on local communities. In particular, highly urbanized, diverse communities with international borders are uniquely vulnerable to human trafficking. These communities have begun to take steps to eradicate human trafficking within their localities. This dissertation explores how local government transforms federal human trafficking policy into local practice. Qualitative methods are used in a case study of Los Angeles County, California. This project is an in-depth examination of human trafficking in Los Angeles and how the anti-trafficking community implements the TVPA's four part action plan. Findings from this research include: Collaboration is essential to anti-trafficking efforts; government and non-governmental actors play distinct, yet complementary roles in the fight of detail and understanding of human trafficking, especially in the United States, has led to the misconception that human trafficking is strictly a global issue. Thus, this dissertation aims to fill this gap in the trafficking literature by identifying and analyzing what a specific municipal government is doing to regulate human trafficking in the community. The dissertation first examines relevant literature, beginning with a definition of human trafficking. The literature review also includes an examination of international, federal, and state anti-trafficking policies, followed by a discussion of local governance of global issues. The methodology chapter outlines the research questions, rationale, and methods utilized in conducting the research. Qualitative methods were applied in a single case study of Los Angeles County, California. The methodology chapter is followed by two results chapters that explore human trafficking in Los Angeles County and analyze how the Los Angeles anti-trafficking community attempts to enact and transform federal human trafficking policy in their local context. Finally, major findings and recommendations for policy and future research are presented. |
