(Image above: Reuters, Lucas Jackson)
Last September, the rapper and record producer Sean “Diddy” Combs was indicted on multiple sex-related felonies, including sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. He pleaded not guilty. His trial began in May of this year, and in early July, the jury arrived at a verdict. Diddy was acquitted on the two more serious charges, sex trafficking and racketeering, and found guilty on two counts of transportation for prostitution.
These convictions carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. Diddy’s sentencing is set for just a few days away, on October 3, 2025. This case has stirred up many questions: What counts legally as human trafficking? Why can trafficking cases be hard to convict? What can justice look like for survivors beyond prosecution?
What is human trafficking, legally?
The Diddy case raises questions bigger than one celebrity. Questions about how trafficking is defined, why cases are so hard to prosecute, and what justice really means for survivors.
Let’s begin with a definition. Human trafficking is a severe form of exploitation for labor, including sex. Sex trafficking refers to inducing someone into a commercial sex act by force, fraud, or coercion—or any commercial sex act with a minor under age 18.
Where does human trafficking happen? Who experiences it?
While Diddy’s case is high-profile, we must remember that traffickers are not always famous, powerful people. Trafficking is not so far removed from our everyday lives. Human trafficking happens in a local context, too, away from celebrities. It happens across Colorado, in both rural and urban areas.
Human trafficking can take place in a variety of settings, including food service and hospitality, the commercial sex industry, debt bondage scenarios with recruiters or smugglers, involuntary servitude or forced marriage arrangements, and exploitative labor operations involving children.
The crime can happen to individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and identities, but certain groups face a higher risk than others. That includes those at risk of or experiencing homelessness, individuals struggling with substance dependency, LGBTQIA+ community members, sex workers, minors not residing with legal guardians, undocumented individuals, and asylees and refugees.
Why aren’t there more human trafficking prosecutions?
National data show thousands of human trafficking cases identified across the United States each year through hotlines, task forces, and investigations. Yet far fewer are ever prosecuted in court, and even fewer result in conviction. Colorado reflects this national trend. Since the state’s human trafficking statutes were enacted in 2014, just over 300 prosecutions have been filed statewide, according to the Colorado Human Trafficking Council’s 2024 Annual Report.
Why so few? Prosecutors face a high legal burden to prove force, fraud, or coercion. Evidence must be strong, and survivors are often asked to testify—an enormous risk when traffickers have isolated them or controlled critical documentation. Survivors describe a web of pressures and threats that don’t always fit neatly into a courtroom standard.
The Diddy verdict underscores how difficult it remains to pursue justice for victims of abuse through the criminal legal system. Survivors who testify in cases like this one take enormous risks, often reliving their trauma in public, and still face an uphill battle for accountability. Many understandably choose not to engage the system at all because it is often retraumatizing and rarely delivers the clarity or closure they deserve.
Why justice isn’t always a courtroom outcome
Many survivors of human trafficking find paths to healing other than prosecuting a trafficker and testifying in a courtroom. This includes receiving trauma-informed counseling or therapy, moving into safe and stable long-term housing, and accessing health care and other support networks.
Research backs this up. A National Institute of Justice study on survivor perceptions found that many people deliberately chose not to pursue prosecution of their traffickers. Survivors described the courtroom process as retraumatizing, with cases often falling apart due to lack of evidence or deciding not to bring a case forward. For them, justice meant safety, healing, or financial stability—not necessarily a conviction.
Our 24/7 Human Trafficking Hotline exists to connect survivors with critical resources, many of which are not criminal justice related. LCHT’s trained Volunteer Hotline Advocates listen to survivors who call or text for help. They discuss the options and pathways to help that are available in Colorado—including the more than 250 vetted organizations we refer people to. For some, that includes connecting with legal aid and law enforcement. But the majority of Hotline callers and texters do not seek law enforcement help.
LCHT’s Executive Director Amanda Finger explains, “Justice for many survivors can look like stability first—housing, employment, reliable transportation, and getting their basic needs met.” She adds, “Solid mental health support and someone to navigate any legal needs may be critical for someone deciding if they want to pursue a criminal legal approach.”
This is the reality for many callers and texters to Colorado’s 24/7 Human Trafficking Hotline. In those instances, our Advocates respect survivors’ wishes and keep their experiences confidential. Survivors deserve to have agency over whether they want to come forward publicly and pursue criminal justice. The non-criminal prosecution support systems and resources are just as essential.
Want to support Colorado’s 24/7 Human Trafficking Hotline? Here are 3 ways you can help:
- Make a gift today to make sure no call or text goes unanswered. You’ll help survivors find their path to justice.
- Get listed in our resource directory. If you are a Colorado-based organization that provides services ranging from workforce development to transitional housing, be a part of our directory.
- Become a volunteer Hotline Advocate to connect survivors with the resources they need. You’ll be trained for remote shifts and join an incredible team of frontline advocates.
Honoring survivors, not just sentences
As the sentencing for Diddy approaches, we are honoring the survivors of abuse who bravely testified and shared their traumatic experiences. We also recognize that criminal prosecution is only one form of justice.
When it comes to justice for survivors of human trafficking, we know that it requires safe spaces, comprehensive support, healing—and systems that work together to prevent exploitation from occurring in the first place. It’s about communities that step forward to provide dignified care and support, regardless of what happens (or doesn’t) in a courtroom or criminal justice system.