Criminal Justice

Criminal justice is the system of laws, institutions, and practices that are used to enforce the law and to protect individuals and communities from crime. Criminal justice is a broad term that encompasses a range of different activities, including law enforcement, prosecution, courts, and corrections. The criminal justice system is designed to ensure that individuals who commit crimes are held accountable for their actions, and to protect the rights and safety of victims and the general public. Criminal justice is a complex and dynamic field, and it is influenced by a range of factors, including social, economic, and political forces. Individuals who work in criminal justice may include law enforcement officers, judges, lawyers, and corrections officers.

Traffickers abusing online technology, UN crime prevention agency warns  
| | | | | | | | | | |

Traffickers abusing online technology, UN crime prevention agency warns  

Research conducted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows how victims are being targeted and recruited via social media and online dating platforms, where personal information and details of people’s locations are readily available. 

The Role of Technology in Human Trafficking
| | | | | | | | | | | | |

The Role of Technology in Human Trafficking

Vienna (Austria) 14 October 2021 – Human traffickers who trick people with fake job offers and promises and then exploit them for profit are taking advantage of online technologies for every step of their criminal activities. Research conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows how victims are being targeted and recruited…

Main Drivers of Human Trafficking in Brazil
| | | | | | | |

Main Drivers of Human Trafficking in Brazil

Brasília (Brazil) 16 September 2021 A new UNODC report on human trafficking trends in Brazil highlights how socio-economic vulnerability and the lack of decent employment opportunities are leading people into the hands of criminal networks who exploit them for profit. The publication, “National Report on Trafficking in Persons 2017-2020”, brings together knowledge and expertise from…

First Person: Human trafficking, migrant smuggling, still significant threats in Asia
| | | | | |

First Person: Human trafficking, migrant smuggling, still significant threats in Asia

Martin Reeve is a Regional Adviser for GLO.ACT a joint European Union-UNODC programme which focuses on Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. He spoke to UN News from his base in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital. 

The Impact of the Pandemic on Human Trafficking
| | | | | | | |

The Impact of the Pandemic on Human Trafficking

Vienna (Austria) 8 July 2021  A new study released today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) illustrates the devastating impact of COVID-19 on victims and survivors of human trafficking and highlights the increased targeting and exploitation of children.

UNODC Highlights Lack of Justice for Migrants Abused on Smuggling Routes
| | | | | | |

UNODC Highlights Lack of Justice for Migrants Abused on Smuggling Routes

Vienna (Austria) 28 June 2021 Migrants who use smuggling networks to flee their home countries are often subjected to extreme violence, torture, rape and kidnapping while in transit or captivity. Despite the severity of these offences, little action is taken by national authorities and, in some cases, officials are complicit in these crimes. These are…

Biographic Information for Members of the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking
| | | | | | | | |

Biographic Information for Members of the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking

Tanya Gould Tanya Gould, a survivor of domestic sex trafficking, is the founder of Identifiable Me, a non-profit that helps move those who have been victimized by sexual violence towards self-discovery and their life’s purpose. Ms. Gould serves as a mentor, consultant, advisor, trainer, and keynote speaker on topics relating to her story. Years after…

Perspective from the Criminal Justice Mind
| | | |

Perspective from the Criminal Justice Mind

I received my master’s degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology in the winter of 2019. I remember feeling so fired up and ready to put my knowledge to use. Human trafficking was not at all a foreign concept to me, as it had been discussed extensively in a number of my courses. I knew about the buyers, the trade, and to what extent traffickers would go in order to avoid law enforcement. I had learned of policing tactics, correctional strategies, and criminological theories that explained what would influence an individual to engage in an illegitimate business.