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Information for Trafficking Victims

Wheel graphic depicting common types of human traffickingHuman trafficking is a serious crime and a violation of human rights that involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to exploit individuals for labor, services or commercial sex. Force, fraud or coercion need not be present if the individual engaging in commercial sex is under 18 years of age. Victims can be men, women or children of any age, background or nationality, and trafficking often occurs in ways that are hidden in plain sight within communities. Traffickers frequently prey on vulnerable individuals through manipulation, intimidation, or false promises of employment, housing or relationships.

The Special Prosecutions Division (SPD) of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office handles cases of human trafficking occurring within Westchester County. The SPD aggressively investigates and prosecutes all sex and labor trafficking crimes while also connecting survivors with meaningful services, support and tools to enable them to safely escape their situations. Our office works closely with the Westchester County Anti-Trafficking Task Force, which is a collaborative initiative uniting law enforcement, service providers and community organizations to combat human trafficking across the county. Additionally, we work with organizations like My Sisters’ Place, one of the largest providers of human trafficking survivor services in Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley.

Our office is a safe haven for all victims of human trafficking regardless of their social, economic or immigration status. We are committed to protecting victims, holding offenders accountable and working with law enforcement, service providers and community organizations to prevent trafficking and support survivors on their path to safety and recovery. If you or anyone you know may be a victim of trafficking or commercial exploitation, if you need further information or if you would like to be connected to social, legal or immigration services, please use the following resources.

  • Victims or witnesses can contact our Special Prosecutions Division at (914) 995-3000.
  • National Human Trafficking Hotline: call 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” to 233733 (BeFree). You can reach the Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in more than 200 languages. 
  • The Victims’ Justice Center (VJC) of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office provides victims of crimes and their families information and assistance regarding their rights, their safety and resources available to help cope with the emotional, physical and financial impacts of crime. The VJC hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Elida Lewellyn, Director: (914) 995-3300; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The VJC has bilingual Spanish-speaking staff. El Centro de Justicia de Víctimas tiene personal bilingüe que habla Español.
  • S. Department of Justice, Office of Victims of Crime, Human Trafficking.
  • New York State Department of Labor: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 877-466-9757