AUSTIN, Texas — The state of Texas has some work to do when it comes to human trafficking, according to a report from The Human Trafficking Institute.
The report, released Tuesday, states Texas ranked first in the nation for the number of criminal cases that wound their way through federal courts last year. Of those 74 cases, 68 involved sex trafficking and six involved labor trafficking.
Texas also ranked first for the number of new criminal human trafficking cases in 2018 with 19 initiated cases. That's well above the national average of five new cases per state or territory.
Of the new criminal cases, the report states Texas initiated two criminal labor trafficking cases last year, making Texas one of only seven states or territories to initiate a new labor trafficking prosecution.
Texas also topped the list for the number of convictions in human trafficking cases in 2018 with 45 convicted defendants. The national average is seven convictions per state or territory.
Last year, the state ordered six defendants who were convicted to pay restitution to their victims, ranking Texas third in the nation for the number of restitution orders.
