// first 10 minutes

labor trafficking investigation — quick-start

labor trafficking — first 10 minutes. safety and consent before any evidence collection. print this, check boxes, then run the primary tools.

checklist

confirm all potential victims are in a safe location before collecting any evidence — call the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) if immediate safety is uncertain.
do not collect evidence that identifies victims without their explicit informed consent — victim cooperation is voluntary; evidence collection is not.
preserve any recruiter contracts, job posting screenshots, or employment agency communications before the recruiting party can delete them.
export wage ledgers, pay stubs, or payment records for the workers in question — note any deductions for housing, transport, or equipment that reduce net pay to zero.
preserve any movement records: tickets, itineraries, border crossing documents, or transport receipts that document the victim's movement.
photograph or preserve living and working conditions documentation if legally accessible — housing contracts, facility photos, sanitation logs.
note the debt bondage structure if present: initial debt amount, deduction rate, and whether the debt is structured to never reach zero.
identify the corporate entities involved: labor recruiter, employer of record, staffing agency, and end-client — trafficking often routes through layered corporate structures.
contact law enforcement or the DHS Blue Campaign before public disclosure — trafficking operations can move victims rapidly when alerted.
begin the primary tool path below — labor trafficking evidence correlator.