Predictive Analytics

Abstract

This chapter presents Prevention Now's design and use of predictive analytics as a method to identify risk factors for human trafficking and to intervene the upstream of exploitation. The method relies on a social-ecological framework for organizing risk factors and to guide analytical prevention efforts. Prevention Now is a non-profit anti-trafficking organization that is prioritizing a data-driven and multidisciplinary approach to trafficking prevention. This approach has three central aims: to develop trans-disciplinary partnerships, to build geographically-specific analytical models, and to translate model findings into targeted prevention. This chapter presents efforts undertaken by Prevention Now towards building collaborative partnerships across systems in a given geography, county, state, to inform data collection and prevention efforts. The chapter centers around Prevention Now's predictive analytics project involving four US states and its ability to leverage data collection and analysis in efforts to better understand the drivers of trafficking.