The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office launched the Human Trafficking Task Force (HTTF) in 2022. The HTTF is a collaboration among local, county, state and federal government with private sector and non-profit organizations whose mission is to combat human trafficking in Lancaster County through the investigation and prosecution of cases based on a victim-centered approach and to foster community awareness of human trafficking through education and outreach.

The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office along with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, Prison, Detectives, Adult and Juvenile Probation, Children and Youth, Drug and Alcohol Commission, Victim and Witness Services, Children’s Alliance, YWCA Lancaster, SAFE Program, Northstar Initiative, ZOE International, Pennsylvania State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation and several Lancaster County police departments are partners in this endeavor. Participating municipal police departments include East Hempfield Township, East Lampeter Township, Lancaster City Bureau of Police, Lititz Borough, Manor Township, Northwest Regional and West Lampeter Township.

Human trafficking is often and commonly misconceived. It is defined as the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act and can take on many forms.  Individuals do not need to be forced into commercial sex acts to be victims of human trafficking.  Many victims are afraid to get help because they are threatened by violence, fear their trafficker and may not be in possession of their identification. 

This task force provides victim assessments and crafts an initial emergency plan when contact with a victim occurs. Meetings for the victim with necessary agencies are arranged, and when needed, long-term and transitional plans are crafted. 

The HTTF was constructed using the Department of Justice/Office of Victims of Crime’s Human Trafficking Task Force suggestions, ZOE International’s Global Best Practices, research and interviews of 10 Pennsylvania Human Trafficking Task Forces, and U.S. State Department Trafficking In Persons (TIP) annual report.

Reporting of suspicious activity believed or suspected to be human trafficking can be submitted here.

Additional information can be found in the PDF attachment below.