Human trafficking is a very widespread and a very disturbing subject that can be found in most of the urban areas such as the state of Portland, Oregon. In 2025, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) made a concerted effort to fight this vice, especially along the 82nd Avenue area of Northeast Portland which is a hotspot of commercial sexual exploitation. The key aspect in these operations is trauma-informed policing: the focus on victims and recognition of a multifaceted psychological and social burden they experience.
This discussion examines how trauma-informed policing is transforming Portland in the battle to combat human trafficking, including the recent operation data, pro-collaboration efforts and the importance of the communal partnership.
Press Release: Human Trafficking Missions Continue to Address Crime Concerns in Northeast Portland
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 22, 2025
Link: https://t.co/MtehUv9is3 pic.twitter.com/OzJyPPY3ON
Understanding Human Trafficking in Portland
The Scope of the Problem
In January 2025 (and since), Portland Police have performed several directed patrol operations around human trafficking and other crimes on Northeast 82nd Avenue and neighborhoods around it. Those operations are fulfilled by the Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) of the Detective Division of PPB, assisted by precinct teams, the Victim Services Unit, and community and non-profit organizations such as Safety Compass.
Between May and June 2025, these operations resulted in:
- At least 17 arrests or citations for Commercial Sexual Solicitation (ORS 167.008) and Unlawful Prostitution Procurement Activities (Portland City Code 14A.40.50).
- Additional charges including forgery and firearm possession for some individuals.
- Six vehicles towed during enforcement actions.
- Contact with approximately 26 providers—individuals involved in commercial sex—who were offered assistance or connection to support services.
These statistics show the extent of trafficking activity and the intentions of the police to stop it.
The Complexity of Human Trafficking Cases
Normally, the investigation of human trafficking is in itself problematic as the involved people go through trauma processing. Constant experience of violence, psychic mind games, and trauma glues traffickers with victims and as such, they are unwilling to help in the legal arrest. The fact that some people fear avenging retaliation and mistrust of authorities also complicates the actions to offer victim testimony and prosecution of the offender.
The HTU is aware of these stumbling blocks and this is reflected in having all their services involve trauma-informed, victim-centered responses. This is meant to reduce retraumatization and create a sense of trust that would motivate the survivors to take part in the justice process and use the resources to recover.
Trauma-Informed Policing: Principles and Practice
What Is Trauma-Informed Policing?
Trauma-informed policing is a paradigm that recognizes the prevalence of trauma in the victims and integrates this realization to the criminal justice procedures. It emphasizes:
- Safety: Development of a safe place for victims.
- Trustworthiness and Transparency: Laying down honest communication.
- Peer Support: Involvement of survivors and advocates.
- Collaboration: Partnership with organizations in the community and other service providers.
- Empowerment: Statement of respect towards the victim’s autonomy and decisions.
- Cultural Competence: Defining and solving problems of varying backgrounds and experiences.
This model differs with the traditional policing that might cause more emotional damages to the victims or may not tackle the multifaceted needs of the victims.
Implementation in Portland’s Human Trafficking Unit
The PPB’s HTU exemplifies trauma-informed policing by:
- Working with the Victim Services Unit and such nonprofit organizations such as Safety Compass to offer outreach and advocacy.
- Carrying out buyer suppression, directed patrol operations that are aimed at overturning demand with survivor protection efforts.
- Providing access to survivors to mental health, housing and job training resources.
- Training officers on how to identify symptoms of trauma and how to act in a sensitive way.
Specifically, Safety Compass collaborates with those under 25 who call themselves survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, offering solutions that are culturally specific as well as centered on the survivor.
Collaborative Efforts and Community Engagement
Multi-Agency Coordination
Human trafficking is a complex offence that needs a combined action. Portland’s approach involves:
- Human Trafficking Unit, East and North Precinct Priority Projects, Central Precinct, Detective Division, Special Resources Division.
- Law enforcement, District Attorney, Parole & Probation, Multnomah County Sheriff.
- Nonprofits like Safety Compass.
This network helps to share intelligence, care of victims and broad-based inquiry.
Community Awareness and Political Support
Multnomah County Commissioners have declared Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in January of 2025, which identifies the local involvement in fighting trafficking. The commissioners emphasized that survivor-centered programs, mental health support, and decriminalization of consensual sex work are important as they led to reduce harm.
Advocates such as Lidija Sovulj and survivor Andrea Metheney focus on tackling the root causes, namely poverty, lack of education and systemic marginalization. Their demand includes free food, labor force, and culturally particular programs to avoid being exploited.
Challenges and Barriers
Survivor Reluctance and Trauma Bonds
The major issue that still presents a problem is that survivors are not willing to report because of trauma attachment to traffickers and fear of reprisal. Such psychological connections make it hard to investigate and prosecute.
Criminalization and Stigma
When consensual sex work is criminalized, this tends to blur the line between victims and offenders, which discourages the victims to seekhelp. Advocates claim the need to decriminalize policies that differentiate exploitation and voluntary activity by adults.
Resource Limitations
Despite this improvement, resources restrict the level to which outreach, victim services, as well as other forms of long-term assistance are provided. It is essential that funding is increased concerning mental health, housing, and job training.
The Impact of Trauma-Informed Policing
The recent missions prove the usefulness of trauma-informed practices:
- Survivors who are reached out in the process of the operation are not engulfed with the aspects of punishment but are provided with immediate and continued help.
- The emphasis of arrests is on buyers and traffickers and networks are also disrupted with reduced harm on providers.
- The providers of juvenile reunification with family and connection to services have been provided outreach.
Such results reflect a change towards justice in the form of healing and empowerment.
National and International Context
Best Practices and Research
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) suggest the usage of a multidisciplinary team and trauma-informed interviewing techniques in the case of trafficking. As highlighted by research, a specific training is required to enhance the identification of victims and the reduction of retraumatization.
The Role of Law Enforcement
Trauma-informed models are being embraced by law enforcement agencies in the country, as the agencies realized that victim cooperation is a key factor towards effective prosecutions and recovery of survivors.
Arresting people can end human trafficking in Portland, but doing so will result in an extremely traumatizing effect on the victims involved, and it is not the answer to resolving human trafficking in Portland. A good example of this model is the Portland Police Bureau’s Human Trafficking Unit that works with community-based organizations such as Safety Compass to provide an integrated approach that is both enforcement and empathetic.
The next steps are the long-term investment in the survivor services, the increase in the number of officers that are trained, and specific policy changes, including decriminalization. Such acute approaches are the only way in which Portland can consider shutting down trafficking rings and returning its most disadvantaged citizens to a state of liberty and security.