image: Joan Reid, director of the University of South Florida Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Lab.
Credit: Cliff McBride -- USF
Click here for a press kit including the full TIP Lab report, images and a data snapshot graphic.
Key takeaways:
- 700,000+ victims in Florida (500K labor, 200K sex trafficking); minors account for 50% of sex trafficking and 25% of labor trafficking.
- Data collected from 30 agencies and 2,500 surveys informs county-level risk, resilience and response ratings.
- State law made USF’s TIP Lab the official data hub, enabling comprehensive analysis and annual reporting to state leaders.
TAMPA, Fla. (July 10, 2025) — A groundbreaking statewide report from the University of South Florida’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Lab estimates more than 700,000 Floridians were trafficked last year and presents a data-driven strategy now guiding anti-trafficking efforts at every level.
Commissioned by the state, “The 2024 State Report on Human Trafficking” identifies Florida’s heightened risk due to population, tourism, ports and industries, while also showcasing coordinated prevention, prosecution and policy measures. It reveals that prosecutions are rising and penalties in Florida exceed the national average.
“Human trafficking is considered a hidden crime and its victims are often invisible,” TIP Lab director Joan Reid said. “The key objective of this report is to make the hidden and invisible visible to those who have the responsibility to act toward disrupting human trafficking in our communities, counties and state.”
By aggregating anonymous data from 30 agencies, nonprofit partners and public surveys into its TIPSTR database, the lab produces annual insights for Florida's governor and legislative leaders.
Florida is particularly susceptible to human trafficking for several reasons:
- Large population
- Multiple major cities hosting national and international events
- Prevalence of airports and ports
- Significant industries such as agriculture, tourism and entertainment
Prevention and criminalization efforts have increased in recent years, including a multi-agency operation resulting the recent arrest of 255 individuals for illegal acts related to trafficking. Coordination is also growing among state agencies, nonprofit organizations and law enforcement to enhance anti-trafficking efforts, according to the report’s authors, putting Florida at the forefront in human trafficking policy.
“We believe this annual report will make a substantial impact on anti-trafficking efforts, resulting in many adults and children being spared from the devastating consequences of human trafficking and many survivors receiving safe and effective assistance,” said Florida State Senator Darryl Rouson, the Senate Appropriations sponsor of the TIP Lab.
The report includes Florida counties with populations of 500,000 or more, focusing on performance and potential challenges in responding to human trafficking. Based on available data, researchers rate each county’s human trafficking risk, resilience and response on a scale from low to high.
Researchers with the TIP Lab collected and analyzed anonymous human trafficking data from 30 state agencies and non-profit organizations to develop a comprehensive statewide view of human trafficking.
Data sources include:
- Agencies such as the Florida Department of Children and Families
- Nonprofits including the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay
- Surveys of 2,500 Floridians designed to further discern the prevalence, geographic distribution and trends related to the crime
Results identify numbers of arrests and prosecutions, commercial sex ads, screenings of at-risk youth, services for victims, established community task forces for trafficking and more.
The TIP Lab worked with several nonprofits in developing technology and data mapping and used Lighthouse software developed by Allies Against Slavery.
“We believe in a future where every community has the data it needs to make victims visible and prevent human trafficking,” said John Nehme, president and CEO of Allies Against Slavery. “We are honored to work alongside USF’s TIP Lab and the state of Florida as we aggregate and visualize both statewide and national human trafficking data through our Lighthouse platform. Human trafficking thrives in the shadows, but data brings it into the light.”
A 2023 state law designated USF’s TIP Lab as Florida’s repository for anonymous human trafficking data. That mandated collection and analysis of statewide data to better understand trends and the magnitude of criminal activity across the state and over time. The lab also evaluates the effectiveness of state-funded initiatives to combat trafficking.
USF researchers feed the data into TIPSTR to compile an annual report on the status of human trafficking for the governor, Florida Senate president and Florida House speaker.
“A report like this had not been done in the past because it seemed impossible to gather all these strands of data located with so many different organizations,” Reid said. “We are extremely grateful for both the state mandate to collect all this data and the funding to make it a reality and support the state’s ongoing response to combat trafficking.”
The state report was also informed by data collected via the BRIGHT Network, an online platform operated by the TIP Lab that connects human trafficking victims with organizations and resources in their community to help them escape their situations. The network allows professionals in anti-trafficking organizations to track, coordinate and provide resources such as health care and safe housing to survivors.
Click here to read a version of this story on the USF-St. Petersburg website.
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About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.