Del. DOJ Human Trafficking Unit ramps up mission, highlights awareness

DELAWARE – January marks National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. In Delaware, members of the Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Unit (the Unit) say they have made dividends in cutting back on such crime in the First State.

Honing in on Human Trafficking

The Unit was formed in 2022 under the direction of Attorney General Kathy Jennings (D – Del.) It is comprised of two prosecutors and a paralegal and helps complete human trafficking investigations across the state.

Before the unit existed, human trafficking tips could be sent to any prosecutor, but usually were fielded by the state’s Special Victims Unit, according to Caroline Brittingham, Deputy Attorney General in the Unit.

“There wasn’t one person that was receiving and tracking that information. So, now that we have the unit and a direct point of contact, we’ve created a system, especially for juvenile trafficking referrals, so when one comes in, it goes to a multidisciplinary team,” Brittingham said.

Built From the Ground Up

Now, the Unit works with various agencies. They include the Division of Family Services, a health practitioner at Nemours Health, other prosecutors, and defense attorneys.

Brittingham said as the Unit was built, the team looked to others in neighboring states for guidance, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, and as far south as Georgia. She added that help has made a difference in finding innovative ways to tamp down on human trafficking.

“We looked at … how they worked and what we could do and adapt from them,” Brittingham said. “We want to be able to hold traffickers accountable and prosecute them when it’s appropriate,” Brittingham said.

Targeting the Illicit Massage Industry

One of the Unit’s main focuses since its inception has been the illicit massage industry. Brittingham said there are about 13,000 such establishments nationally, and the industry is worth about $4 billion.

“That is an industry that is taking over … You know where these locations are in your community, and we’re trying to draw more awareness about that. It may be next to your favorite sandwich shop, or maybe it is next to your hair salon,” Brittingham said.

Illicit massage parlors often operate without a license required by the state, according to the Delaware Department of Justice. Since 2022, search warrants have been executed on illicit massage parlors in Bear, Claymont, Dover, Felton, Milford, Milton, Newark, and Wilmington. The Unit also worked to connect sex workers with victim advocates and community resources.

“Patronizing a prostitute or an illicit massage establishment is not a victimless crime … Most, if not all of these workers are being trafficked and are subject to horrific treatment, and those who would solicit them are without question part of that abuse,” Attorney General Jennings stated in a press release.

Brittingham said people may choose to turn a blind eye toward illicit massage parlors for various reasons. But she added there are signs to look out for.

“Some people know it’s happening and they don’t want to confront it, and I think other people have no idea … If you go to Massage Envy (for example), you’re going to be able to see through the windows. They’re going to have posted hours, they’re going to have male and female clientele. If you see an illicit massage establishment, it’s going to be a lot different than that,” Brittingham said.

Working to Stop Sex Solicitation

Another focus of the Unit has been to catch sex buyers in the act.

Since 2022, the Delaware Department of Justice has arrested 29 sex buyers statewide. The Unit helped conduct reverse prostitution operations in Dover, Georgetown, Newark, Rehoboth Beach, and Wilmington. It also worked to connect sex workers with victim advocates and community resources.

“If we are able to attack the demand of sex buyers and reduce that demand, I really believe that will play into reducing human trafficking as a whole as well,” Brittingham said.

Looking Ahead, More Information

And as the Unit expands its mission, Brittingham said it faces its own challenges but is poised to handle them.

“Here, you could drive an hour and you could be in Maryland, and you’ll be off Delaware State Police or the municipal (agency’s) radar. I definitely think that is something that’s unique to Delaware … I do think that it’s great that we have a small state and we are statewide. If somebody calls us, we would not refer them to somebody else in Dover or Wilmington,” Brittingham said.

Looking ahead, Brittingham encouraged Delawareans to have tough but necessary conversations about human trafficking.

“A lot of people have a baseline knowledge from social media or movies they’ve seen. A lot of people, when I talk to them about human trafficking, will reference the movie ‘Taken.’ That movie deals with foreign human trafficking, not the human trafficking that we see in our backyard … The more that people talk about human trafficking and the more other people know what human trafficking is and that it is taking place in our community is helpful,” Brittingham said.

For more information about the Delaware Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Unit, click here. The National Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 1-888-373-7888. To learn more about the national hotline, click here.