Presenter Information
Alfred (AJ) Vogt
Abstract
Human trafficking is the modern-day form of slavery. Human trafficking occurs on a daily basis throughout the United States with the majority of victims being women and children. Existing programs to reduce human trafficking are primarily focused on either the prevention of first-time victims or the aid of previously victimized individuals. In this study, we propose a mathematical model describing human trafficking of underage females and the use of prevention and short and long-term aid programs to reduce victimization. The model is a system of differential equations describing the movement of underage females between susceptible, victimized, and aided classes within an at-risk population. Prevention programs are included in the model as a reduction in the rate at which susceptible females are victimized. Both short and long-term aid programs move victims to separate classes in the model. Model solutions show the number of trafficking victims (both first-time and repeat victims) and the total costs associated with prevention and aid programs, respectively. We use the mathematical framework to determine an appropriate balance of prevention and aid resources that minimizes both total costs and total number of victims over a give
School
McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts
Advisor
Rachael Miller Neilan
Submission Type
Paper
Publication Date
2016-04-06
Included in
Combating Human Trafficking Using Mathematics
Human trafficking is the modern-day form of slavery. Human trafficking occurs on a daily basis throughout the United States with the majority of victims being women and children. Existing programs to reduce human trafficking are primarily focused on either the prevention of first-time victims or the aid of previously victimized individuals. In this study, we propose a mathematical model describing human trafficking of underage females and the use of prevention and short and long-term aid programs to reduce victimization. The model is a system of differential equations describing the movement of underage females between susceptible, victimized, and aided classes within an at-risk population. Prevention programs are included in the model as a reduction in the rate at which susceptible females are victimized. Both short and long-term aid programs move victims to separate classes in the model. Model solutions show the number of trafficking victims (both first-time and repeat victims) and the total costs associated with prevention and aid programs, respectively. We use the mathematical framework to determine an appropriate balance of prevention and aid resources that minimizes both total costs and total number of victims over a give