Human Trafficking in Georgia: Complete Prevention Guide
Global human trafficking has become an increasingly prominent issue that affects all ages, genders, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Human traffickers often thrive because they can sell and exploit victims repeatedly.
Approximately 374 Georgian girls experience commercial sexual exploitation in Georgia each month. [1]
In 2012, approximately 12,400 Georgian men sexually exploited females each month, with 7,200 exploiting minors. [2]
Human Trafficking in Georgia
Georgia may attract human traffickers for several reasons.
Accessibility: Georgia’s easy access to other states enables trafficking.
Atlanta has the busiest airport worldwide, with an average of 286,000 daily travelers, [3] and Georgia has multiple interstate highways like I-85, I-75, I-20, and I-285.
Lack of HT Resources: According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s 2014 report “Human Trafficking in Georgia: A Survey of Law Enforcement”, law enforcement has only documented around 190 cases with one or more trafficking victims while victim service organizations have identified 500 human trafficking victims. [4]
Organizational differences and ineffective victim identification may contribute to this high discrepancy.
Law enforcement and authorities often lack the proper training and awareness needed to effectively conduct investigations and identify victims.
High Immigrant and Refugee Population: Georgia has a large immigrant and refugee population and a large agricultural industry that attracts human trafficking.
In 2018, 1.1 million foreign-born individuals comprised 10 percent of Georgia’s population. [5]
In the same year, over 236,000 Georgians lived with at least one undocumented family member.
Statistics
In 2023, Georgia ranked 6th in the United States for human trafficking cases identified, with 263 cases reported. [6]
The National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH) tracks important data regarding the state of human trafficking across the country. NHTH’s most recent statistics are from 2023.
Since 2007, NHTH has received 7,867 Georgian calls and identified 3,247 human trafficking cases. [7]
The most common venues for Georgia sex trafficking are as follows:
- Residence-Based Commercial Sex-22
- Online Ad, Venue Unknown-8
- Escort/Delivery Service-6
- Illicit Massage/Spa Business-5
- Truck Stop-Based-3
- Other-80
Roughly 27% of Georgian victims NHTH registered in 2023 were minors.
Cities
Consider the impact of human trafficking in the following Georgian cities:
Atlanta
The Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the busiest in the world.
Among Georgian men who buy sex in metro Atlanta, 9% reported being near the airport. [8]
Interstate highways such as I-85, I-75, I-20, and I-285 make it easy for traffickers to transport victims around the city and suburbs, with approximately 65% of Georgian men who buy sex with young females doing so in suburban metro Atlanta.
Atlanta also hosts numerous music, sporting, and business events, attracting travelers from around the world and allowing for new job opportunities to lure potential human trafficking victims.
Atlanta has the most trafficked Hispanic females in the U.S. [9]
Chatham County
Out of Georgia’s 159 counties, Chatham County has the 4th highest rate of minor human trafficking victims. [10]
Savannah’s popular tourist industry makes Savannah a potential hub for human trafficking activity, especially during St. Patrick’s Day.
Before Tharros Place opened in late November 2023, the closest facility for human trafficking survivors was more than an hour from Chatham County. [11]
Augusta
From October 2020 to March 2021, Richmond County residents reported 27 child sex trafficking cases to a local child trafficking hotline. [12]
Augusta hosts the world’s most famous annual golf tournament, the Masters Tournament.
The Masters attracts around 40,000 attendees, not including patrons who do not attend the competition but stay at surrounding hotels and resorts.
The Masters is the 2nd biggest sporting event in human trafficking, just behind the Super Bowl. [13]
Georgia’s Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Efforts
Georgia has taken a proactive approach to eliminating human trafficking.
These efforts include:
Anti-Human Trafficking Legislation
OCGA 16-5-46: Georgia’s Human Trafficking law criminalizes behavior that “knowingly subjects or maintains another or knowingly recruits, entices, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains by any means another person for sexual servitude.”
The law sets clear penalties and standards [14]:
- Felony with imprisonment between 10-20 years, a fine not to exceed $100,000 if the victim is a minor, or both. If a minor was coerced/deceived into being trafficked, imprisonment for 25-50 years, fine not to exceed $100,000, or both.
- The age of consent (16 years old) or the ignorance of a victim’s age is no longer allowed as a defense.
- The definition of coercion is broadly defined.
SB 42: Governor Brian Kemp signed this bill in April 2023, imposing a $500-5,000 fine for failure to or incorrectly displaying the human trafficking hotline in certain businesses. [15]
O.C.G.A. § 42-1-12(a)(10)(B.1): The sex offender registry now labels trafficking in persons for sexual servitude as a dangerous sexual offense. [16]
Expanded Government Resources and Services
Statewide Screening Tool for Child Sex Trafficking and Exploitation: The Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council created this tool to prepare Georgia’s communities to respond to domestic minor sex trafficking/commercial sexual exploitation of children (“DMST/CSEC”) by providing a guide to identify victims and refer them to accessible services such as Child Advocacy Centers of Georgia. [17]
This tool allows Georgian authorities to effectively communicate trafficked minors’ data across systems.
Training: A collaboration of First Lady Marty Kemp, the GRACE Commission, and the Georgia Department of Administrative Services (“DOAS”) launched Human Trafficking Awareness Training for Georgia employees and the general public in January 2020. [18]
Statewide Human Trafficking Victim Advocate:
The Statewide Human Trafficking Victim Advocate links survivors and law enforcement by ensuring policy and protocol development considers survivors. [19]
It also responds to statewide hotline inquiries and is a primary resource for the Georgia Human Exploitation and Trafficking (“HEAT”) Unit.
The Advocate provides victims with information, legal and investigative resources, and mental health and community referrals.
Creation of a Statewide Human Trafficking Hotline
(866)- ENDHTGA (3634842) [20]
The statewide human trafficking hotline helps law enforcement investigate sexual or labor trafficking and connects individuals to state trafficking-related services and resources.
The hotline collaborates with partners and nonprofits to provide callers with trained law enforcement agents, advocates, and first responders 24/7.
Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit
The first of its kind in Georgia, Attorney General Chris Carrs created the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit in 2019.
In 2022, the unit led and aided 33 case investigations, made six convictions, and rescued and aided 116 victims. [21]
Georgians for Refugee, Action, Compassion, and Education Commission
In 2019, the Georgians for Refuge, Action, Compassion, and Education Commission (GRACE) assembled to fight state human trafficking. [22]
The GRACE Commission advocates for meaningful trafficking legislation and supports the expansion of rehabilitation centers for survivors, including mental health services.
The GRACE Commission’s partners include public officials, law enforcement, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, faith-based institutions, and subject matter experts. [23]
In March 2023, Governor Brian Kemp increased the GRACE Commission’s membership by signing an executive order that added 2 seats while appointing 4 new members to fill vacancies. [24]
Stories, Cases, and Successful Operations
Georgia has endured numerous human trafficking incidents.
Here are some sample cases that represent Georgia's current trafficking landscape:
1. In March 2017, Kenndric Roberts was arrested and faced five counts of false imprisonment, five counts of trafficking persons for labor, and two counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. [25]
A 20-year-old female victim had called 911 dispatchers leading to a rented $1 million luxury home in the Atlanta suburbs where 8 women aged 19 to 22 were held and sexually exploited.
Roberts lured victims by making promises of providing these women with modeling jobs.
Roberts used violence, threats against the women’s families, and promises of money to coerce them into commercial sexual exploitation.
2. In March 2023, Marlette Laishell Smith pleaded guilty to two counts of Sex Trafficking of a Minor and two counts of Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity. [26]
Smith recruited two minor females, 15 and 16 years old, into prostitution after finding them stranded in Memphis, Tennessee.
Smith promised to help these girls return home to California if they accompanied her to Alabama and made $200 each.
Instead, Smith transported them to Georgia and then Alabama where she sexually trafficked them.
In June 2023, Smith received a 300-month prison sentence followed by 20 years of supervised release.
3. In August 2023, a high-speed Atlanta police chase led to the rescue of a sexually exploited Ohioan 16-year-old and the arrest of Anthony Holmes, an alleged human trafficker. [27]
The chase started as a traffic stop because of tinted windows and other issues.
Operation Not Forgotten: The U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit and other Georgia state and local agencies hold Operation Not Forgotten, a two-week operation to rescue endangered missing children in the metro Atlanta area.
2020: In 2020, the operation rescued 26 children, safely located 13 children, arrested 9 criminal associates, and cleared 26 arrest warrants. [28]
2021: Like 2020, the 2021 Operation Not Forgotten involved the partnership between the U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit’s Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (“SERFTF”) and the Office of the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. [29]
The 2021 Operation Not Forgotten resulted in the recovery of 20 children; authorities suspected 16 to be child sexual exploitation and trafficking victims.
Operation Cross Country: In 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”), conducted a two-week-long nationwide initiative known as “Operation Cross Country” to identify and locate sex trafficking victims.
In Georgia, the FBI partnered with law enforcement to locate 28 minor victims, including 9 commercially sexually exploited children. [30]
The partners also arrested 4 human trafficking suspects in Atlanta.
Organizations, Coalitions, Taskforces, and Universities
Various Georgian organizations, coalitions, task forces, and universities are dedicated to fighting human trafficking and supporting victims.
These include:
Georgia Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force
The Task Force aims to protect citizens from perpetrators and exploitative systems while supporting the recovery of trafficking victims. [31]
The Task Force’s goal is to make a positive impact on human trafficking victims’ lives to prepare them for a successful future.
The Task Force’s human trafficking framework addresses the five elements of the trafficking continuum:
- Vulnerability
- Recruitment
- Exploitation
- Withdrawal
- Reintegration
The Task Force's key objectives are:
- Community Awareness and Education
- Youth Aware and Safe
- Deterring Traffickers and Buyers
- Keeping At-Risk Youth Safe
- Apprehending, Investigating, and Prosecuting
- Foreign-Born and Labor Trafficking
- Survivors Supported and Protected
- Survivors Recovering and Thriving
- Examining Domestic Adult Sex Trafficking
The Task Force promotes agency partnerships to combat human trafficking within the state.
Georgia Coalition to Combat Human Trafficking
The Georgia Coalition to Combat Human Trafficking (GCCHT) is Georgia’s first law enforcement task force dedicated to addressing human trafficking statewide. [32]
In 2019, the Bureau of Justice Assistance and Office for Victims of Crime awarded the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council a dual grant of $1,700,000 which works to enhance the statewide response to human trafficking through the GCCHT.
The core partners of the GCCHT include the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Wellspring Living, Tapestri, and Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia (CACGA).
These agencies will conduct a statewide project to:
- Coordinate human trafficking protocol development
- Create victim advocacy
- Law enforcement and prosecutor training
- Provide technical assistance to new and existing human trafficking initiatives throughout the state
The project's goals include:
- Creating a unified, statewide, and consistent response from law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim services providers within human trafficking cases
- Increasing access to victim services
- Increasing offender accountability
- Increasing in knowledge and skills for victim services and criminal justice system stakeholders to appropriately respond in a coordinated manner to human trafficking in Georgia.
Georgia Cares
Since 2009, Georgia Cares has been a statewide coordinating agency that serves as a contact for all commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) victims identified within the state. [33]
Georgia Cares follows a youth-centered approach by connecting services, treatment care for child victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking, and law enforcement to assess youth victims’ unique needs and strengths.
Georgia Cares provides customized service plans for each youth victim and monitors their recovery progress.
University of Georgia
Established in 2021, the University of Georgia’s Center on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach (CenHTRO) aims to address discrepancies in global human trafficking and implement evidence-informed interventions. [34]
CenHTRO conducts research and develops programming by valuing both empirical data and input from human trafficking survivors.
CenHTRO’s goal is to reduce human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.
CenHTRO recognizes the important influence of different cultural contexts when co-designing programs, policies, and interventions with local partners to meet the needs of human trafficking victims or potential victims.
Act Now. For more tools and information, check out our Resources page.
Recommended Citation:
Human Trafficking Front. “Human Trafficking in Georgia: Complete Prevention Guide.” Human Trafficking Front Blog. Published January 3, 2025. https://humantraffickingfront.org/human-trafficking-in-georgia-complete-prevention-guide/.
References:
[1] Georgia Department of Administrative Services. Human Trafficking Awareness Training Manual. https://doas.ga.gov/sites/default/files/assets/Human%20Resources%20Administration/Human%20Trafficking%20Awareness%20Training/HT%20Awareness%20Student%20Guide%20%28Large%20Print%29.pdf.
[2] Berman, Bergman, & Associates. “Sex Trafficking in Georgia: What You Need to Know.” https://www.bbga.com/sex-trafficking-in-georgia-what-you-need-to-know/.
[3] Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. “ATL Fact Sheet.” Accessed January 3, 2025. https://www.atl.com/about-atl/atl-factsheet/#:~:text=Hartsfield%2DJackson%20averages%20286%2C000%20passengers,of%20the%20United%20States%20population.
[4] Bailey, Meredith, and Jennifer Wade. Human Trafficking in Georgia: A Survey of Law Enforcement Assessing Georgia Law Enforcement’s Awareness of and Involvement in Human Trafficking Activity. Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and Georgia Emergency Management Agency / Office of Homeland Security (GEMA/OHS), May 1, 2014. https://gachiefs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2014HumanTraffickingReport_GBI-3.pdf.
[5] American Immigration Council. Fact Sheet: Immigrants in Georgia. Published August 6, 2020. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/immigrants-in-georgia.
[6] National Human Trafficking Hotline. Human Trafficking Statistics by State, 2023. https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics.
[7] National Human Trafficking Hotline. Georgia Statistics. https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics/georgia.
[8] The Schapiro Group. Men Who Buy Sex with Adolescent Girls: A Scientific Research Study, 1. https://prostitutionresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/The-Schapiro-Group-Georgia-Demand-Study-1.pdf.
[9] Georgia Department of Administrative Services, Human Trafficking Awareness Training Manual.
[10] Schrader, Shea. “Chatham Co. Ranks 4th in State for Human Trafficking, Tharros Place Teaching Parents Signs to Look For.” WTOC. Published May 17, 2023, at 6:12 a.m. EDT. https://www.wtoc.com/2023/05/17/chatham-co-ranks-4th-state-human-trafficking-tharros-place-teaching-parents-signs-look/.
[11] Wiggins, Destiny. “New Facility to Help Survivors of Human Trafficking Expecting to Open This Summer.” Fox 28 Savannah. Published January 13, 2023, at 4:41 p.m. Updated January 13, 2023, at 11:17 p.m. https://fox28savannah.com/news/local/human-trafficking-facility-survivors-chatham-county-savannah-georgia-tharros-place-courage-minors-organization-poverty-january?video=14c05b49967d4aca9950a9af90f91a9a%3Fvideo%3D14c05b49967d4aca9950a9af90f91a9a&jw_start=.
[12] WJBF. “27 Cases of Child Trafficking out of Augusta Reported to Child Trafficking Hotline.” Published March 10, 2021, at 6:42 p.m. EST. Updated March 10, 2021, at 7:11 p.m. EST. https://www.wjbf.com/news/27-cases-of-child-trafficking-out-of-augusta-reported-to-child-trafficking-hotline/.
[13] Johnson, Autumn. “Human Trafficking Awareness Raised for the Masters.” WJBF. Published April 7, 2019, at 4:50 a.m. EDT. Updated April 7, 2019, at 4:50 a.m. EDT. https://www.wjbf.com/csra-news/human-trafficking-awareness-raised-for-the-masters/.
[14] Georgia Code. Title 16 - Crimes and Offenses, Chapter 5 - Crimes Against the Person, Article 3 - Kidnapping, False Imprisonment, and Related Offenses, Section 16-5-46: Trafficking of Persons for Labor or Sexual Servitude. 2023. https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-16/chapter-5/article-3/section-16-5-46/.
[15] Office of the Governor of Georgia. “Gov. Kemp Signs Legislation Continuing First Lady Marty Kemp's Work to End Human Trafficking.” Published April 11, 2023. https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2023-04-11/gov-kemp-signs-legislation-continuing-first-lady-marty-kemps-work-end.
[16] Georgia Code. Title 42 - Penal Institutions, Chapter 1 - General Provisions, Article 2 - State Sexual Offender Registry, Section 42-1-12: State Sexual Offender Registry. 2023. https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-42/chapter-1/article-2/section-42-1-12/.
[17] Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of Georgia. Statewide Screening Tool for Child Sex Trafficking and Exploitation in Georgia. https://cjcc.georgia.gov/human-trafficking-task-force/statewide-screening-tool.
[18] Office of the Governor of Georgia. GRACE Commission. https://gov.georgia.gov/first-lady/grace-commission.
[19] Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of Georgia. Trainings and Resources. https://cjcc.georgia.gov/human-trafficking-task-force/trainings-and-resources.
[20] Ibid.
[21] Office of the Attorney General of Georgia. “Carr: Hotel Clerk Indicted for Human Trafficking in Fulton County.” Published March 21, 2023. https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2023-03-21/carr-hotel-clerk-indicted-human-trafficking-fulton-county.
[22] Office of the Governor of Georgia. GRACE Commission.
[23] Office of the Governor of Georgia. GRACE Commission Members. https://gov.georgia.gov/first-lady/grace-commission/grace-commission-members.
[24] Office of the Governor of Georgia. “First Lady Marty Kemp Announces New Appointments to GRACE Commission.” Published March 17, 2023. https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2023-03-17/first-lady-marty-kemp-announces-new-appointments-grace-commission.
[25] Ortiz, Erik. “Man Arrested After 8 Women Found Captive in Luxury Georgia Home in Possible Human Trafficking Case.” NBC News. Published March 10, 2017. Updated March 10, 2017. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-arrested-after-8-women-held-luxury-georgia-home-human-n731871.
[26] U.S. Department of Justice. “Georgia Woman Sentenced to 25 Years for Sex Trafficking Minors.” Published June 2, 2023. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndal/pr/georgia-woman-sentenced-25-years-sex-trafficking-minors.
[27] Atlanta News First Staff. “Ohio Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Trafficking Teen to Atlanta, Attorney General Says.” Atlanta News First. Published November 18, 2024, at 12:44 p.m. EST. Updated November 19, 2024, at 11:09 a.m. EST. https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2024/11/18/ohio-man-sentenced-life-prison-trafficking-teen-atlanta-attorney-general-says/.
[28] U.S. Marshals Service. “U.S. Marshals Find 39 Missing Children in Georgia During Operation Not Forgotten.” Press release, August 27, 2020. https://www.usmarshals.gov/news/press-release/us-marshals-find-39-missing-children-georgia-during-operation-not-forgotten.
[29] Office of the Attorney General of Georgia. “Carr, U.S. Marshals Service and Locals Partner in Operation Not Forgotten 2021, Recover 20 Endangered Missing Children.” Published June 24, 2021. https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2021-06-24/carr-us-marshals-service-and-locals-partner-operation-not-forgotten-2021#:~:text=Operation%20Not%20Forgotten%202021%20was,suspected%20victims%20of%20sex%20trafficking.
[30] Federal Bureau of Investigation. “FBI Announces Results of Nationwide Sex Trafficking Operation/Operation Cross Country XII Georgia Results.” Press release, August 15, 2022. https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/atlanta/news/press-releases/fbi-announces-results-of-nationwide-sex-trafficking-operationoperation-cross-country-xii-georgia-results.
[31] Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of Georgia. Human Trafficking Task Force. https://cjcc.georgia.gov/human-trafficking-task-force.
[32] End Human Trafficking Georgia. Coalition Overview. https://endhtga.org/overview.
[33] Georgia Cares. What We Do. https://www.gacares.org/what-we-do.html.
[34] University of Georgia. Center on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach. https://cenhtro.uga.edu/about/.
