This NIJ "Notes from the Field" article discusses several of the challenges that face local law enforcement when investigating human trafficking cases.
One of the biggest hurdles for local law enforcement in investigating human trafficking is having the availability of officers to handle a trafficking crime. Theresa Nietzel, a human trafficking investigator with the Erie County (New York) Sheriff's Office stresses in the article how she believes collaboration among law enforcement is central to any successful human trafficking investigation. She says the partnerships formed with victim service providers and other community partners are equally important. In 2019, Nietzel was presented with the Homeland Security Investigations' Human Trafficking Task Force Officer of the Year. The award recognized her efforts and investigative work in combating trafficking. This article is from NIJ's "Notes from the Field" series, which allows leading voices in the field to share their strategies for responding to the most pressing issues on America's streets today.