UC human trafficking research makes headlines across Ohio
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine points to study as proof of need for better agency resources
New University of Cincinnati research on the prevalence of human trafficking in Ohio released Tuesday, March 27, by the Ohio Department of Public Safety grabbed the attention of the state's leading newspapers, news radio stations and the governor.
The UC study, titled “Estimating the Prevalence of Human Trafficking in Ohio,” examined data from 14 distinct sources that included child welfare, law enforcement, legal and juvenile justice agencies, primarily from the years 2014 through 2016. UC researchers then processed the information into a single database with a common set of measures. The process included identifying and removing duplicate victim records. An estimated 1,032 victims were identified.
In addition to being quoted in news releases, Gov. Mike DeWine took to Twitter to further react to the study, retweeting UC Assistant Professor Valerie Anderson, its principle researcher:
Further action is required to make this video accessible
The below criteria must be satisfied:
- Affirm Accessibility must be checked AND
- Kaltura or embed is selected, or YouTube or Vimeo is selected and a title is entered.
The video will not display on the live site until the issue above is resolved.
Related Stories
A jolly good trip: Bearcats take on London for fragrance company
May 15, 2026
Six NEXT Innovation Scholars at the University of Cincinnati traveled to London to transform field research into actionable recommendations for British luxury bath, body and fragrance brand Molton Brown.
Driven by curiosity, guided by care
May 14, 2026
Max Wilson, a University of Cincinnati College of Allied Health Sciences health sciences major on the pre-physician assistant track, found his path expanding beyond the classroom and into hands-on research focused on human performance and patient care.
UC Blue Ash celebrates top students and recognizes Honor Student of the Year
May 14, 2026
The University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College recently hosted a special event that celebrated students for exceptional achievements during the 2025-26 academic year. The honorees included academic award winners, student engagement award winners, Latin Honors graduates, and the 2026 UC Blue Ash College Honor Student of the Year.
University of Cincinnati graduate programs rise in national rankings across high-demand fields
May 13, 2026
University of Cincinnati graduate programs climbed in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, led by strong gains in workforce-focused fields including public health, clinical psychology and business.
UC achieves first-in-world remission of aggressive pituitary tumor with novel immunotherapy
May 13, 2026
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute’s Brain Tumor Center have been confirmed as the first in the world to achieve complete remission of a rare pituitary cancer using a novel immunotherapy treatment. The findings were published in Surgical Neurology International and recently featured in The Cancer Letter.
‘GangTok’: Study provides insights about the presence of gang culture on TikTok
May 12, 2026
John Leverso, an assistant professor in the UC School of Criminal Justice, is lead author of the research, 'GangTok: Street gang content, culture, and roleplay on TikTok' published recently in Crime, Media, Culture: An International Journal.