Human trafficking awareness and reporting: insights from Tennessee police websites and Twitter

Purpose - Human trafficking is challenging to address; one facet of response has been to engage with the public to increase awareness of trafficking and create connections that facilitate identification. Police officials are uniquely situated to engage with the community on human trafficking through their online presence. However, little is known about how police officials use these virtual platforms to discuss trafficking. Design/methodology/approach - The current study examines how Tennessee police use agency websites and Twitter to connect with their community on the issue of human trafficking. Findings - Out of 241 police agencies studied in Tennessee, 80% (n = 192) had websites, while 35% (n = 84) had Twitter accounts. Findings suggest that Tennessee agencies are not currently using websites (1%) or Twitter (4.7%) to engage with the public about human trafficking. Further, when it did occur, the communication to the public was limited in depth and resources. Research limitations/implications - Future research should include other police agencies and additional social media sites. Practical implications - Police agencies could be more proactive at engaging the community, with the caveat that any future initiatives should have clear goals and monitor their effectiveness at achieving their intended outcomes. Originality/value - This research provides a fundamental analysis of how police agencies communicate to the public on issues related to human trafficking.