Strong Laws, Few Convictions: Why Texas Human Trafficking Cases Stall

Overview: Despite expansive anti‑trafficking laws in Texas, prosecutors and victims face long delays, frequent plea deals to lesser offenses, and relatively few convictions under the state’s human trafficking statute. A multi‑county review of publicly releasable case data and statewide corrections records highlights systemic barriers that impede accountability and prolong victims’ ordeal.

Findings from the county review

We analyzed publicly releasable data for offenses filed under Texas Penal Code Chapter 20A from 2021 through September 2025 in five Central Texas counties: Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bexar and Dallas. Key findings:

• More than 90 trafficking cases remain pending across the five counties examined.
• Victims in those counties have waited an average of 530.5 days for case closure since the alleged offense.
• Closed cases in these counties took an average of 674 days to reach final disposition.
• Williamson County was excluded from one timing comparison because the three cases it provided were declined or dismissed.

Statewide picture

District court records show prosecutors filed more than 1,600 human trafficking cases in Texas since 2021. Yet Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) records indicate only 112 people are currently serving prison sentences from trafficking convictions in that same period. The TDCJ also lists 181 inmates serving sentences for trafficking‑related offenses, with convictions originating in 44 different counties.

Why prosecutions stall

Prosecutors cited several consistent obstacles:

• Identification and access: trafficking networks can operate within insular communities, making victims and witnesses difficult to locate and support.
• Cross‑jurisdictional complexity: cases that cross county, state or international borders require coordination and resources that slow investigations.
• Legal burden: the trafficking statute contains many specific elements that are difficult to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, so prosecutors often pursue alternative charges with fewer elements.
• Plea bargaining: trafficking counts that reach plea agreements are frequently reduced to offenses such as "compelling or promoting prostitution," with prosecutors dropping the trafficking charge in exchange for a guilty plea to a lesser offense.

Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick said the challenge starts with identifying cases in what he called 'a closed community' and is compounded by cross‑border activity and difficulty locating witnesses.

Policy response and reforms

Lawmakers have passed additional protections aimed at encouraging victim cooperation. Senate Bill 11 (SB 11), passed in a recent special session, creates an affirmative defense for certain trafficking victims accused of crimes they committed under force, fraud or coercion by their traffickers. Supporters say SB 11 should increase victims’ willingness to speak with prosecutors and could improve the chances of sustainable trafficking convictions.

State Senator Tan Parker, author of SB 11, said the law should make victims 'feel so much more comfortable now being able to talk to prosecutors' and stressed the need for faithful implementation and confidential, comprehensive data collection.

How to spot human trafficking

Common indicators include:

• Victims who are constantly accompanied, controlled, or unable to speak for themselves.
• Signs of physical abuse, malnutrition, or poor living conditions tied to a work or service situation.
• Inconsistent or scripted answers about employment or travel history; lack of identification documents.
• Workplaces or residences with restricted access and surveillance, or people being transported across borders for exploitative purposes.

What needs to change

Prosecutors and advocates recommend several steps to improve investigations and increase trafficking convictions:

• Early involvement of trained prosecutors in investigations to help preserve evidence and witnesses.
• Specialized training for law enforcement and prosecutors on identifying trafficking indicators and proving statutory elements.
• Improved, confidential data collection and sharing across agencies to identify trends and measure the impact of reforms.
• Victim‑centered support services that stabilize witnesses so they can participate in prosecutions.

Sources: District attorneys' offices, Office of Court Administration (OCA) data, Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), statements from Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick and State Senator Tan Parker.