Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking Training

male receptionist at hotel lobby desk looking at computer

FAST FACTS – Where is the training?

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Human Trafficking Training for Hotels online training is available for hotel employees. Visit the DCJS website to access the course: https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/human-trafficking-response-virginia/human-trafficking-training-req-hotels.  

  • Be Advised: This course must be taken by individual employees and not presented in a group setting.
  • Courses can be accessed on desktop computers, smartphones, or tablets. Please check back often for new content.
  • For technical assistance or additional questions, contact hoteltraining@dcjs.virginia.gov.

My company already has training. Can we use that?

DCJS has and will continue to review and approve existing training resources. Visit the DCJS Human Trafficking Training Requirements for Hotels webpage to view the “Alternative Approved Courses”.

Language barrier?

  • DCJS training is now offered in Spanish, Bengali, Gujarati, and Hindi!
  • PACT is approved for use in 17 different languages.
    • The PACT course is approved by DCJS and identified on the Approved Curriculum Directory. If a language barrier is prohibiting compliance, a facility operator can look into using the PACT courses at https://courses.wearepact.org/recognize-the-signs.

Overnight lodging facilities permitted by VDH

VDH regulates overnight lodging facilities (hotels, motels, inn’s, bed-and-breakfasts) through Title 35.1. Hotels, Restaurants, Summer Camps, and Campgrounds. § 35.1-15.1 of the Code of Virginia requires training of hotel employees, as defined in the chapter, and this training is regulated by VDH through Chapter 431. Sanitary Regulations for Hotels.

Historical Summary

House Bill 258 (Hotels; human trafficking training), as adopted by Chapter 751, is an act that directs the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), under the direction of the Criminal Justice Services Board, to develop an online course to train hotel proprietors and their employees, as defined in § 35.1-15.1 of the Code of Virginia, to recognize and report instances of suspected human trafficking. The act provides that such online course shall be provided at no cost to the hotel proprietors and their employees. The act requires that every hotel proprietor require its employees to complete such human trafficking training course developed by the Department or an alternative online or in-person training course approved by the Department within six months of being employed by a hotel and thereafter at least once every two years, for as long as the employee is employed by the hotel. The act became effective January 1, 2023.

My staff and I are trained, now what?

Hotel operators must provide documentation that the appropriate employees have been trained through an approved training course or curriculum. It will be necessary to provide a list of applicable employees, their employment start date, when they completed the training, and documentation supporting the training completion (certificates, transcripts, etc.). VDH began enforcing these requirements starting July 1, 2023 and will be part of the normal routine inspection.

New! Quick Reference for Human Trafficking Indicators and Reporting

DCJS created a one-page flyer for the hotels with human trafficking indicators and reporting instructions. The flyer is available in English, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, and Spanish. It is recommended that hotel managers/employees place these flyers in staff areas (behind the front desk, in breakrooms, etc.) to keep the information fresh in their minds.

Anonymous Human Trafficking Tip Hotline

The Virginia State Police’s (VSP) tip hotline is an anonymous tool to report human trafficking. This resources allows the public to submit tips to the VSP’s Human Trafficking Investigative Unit.

VSP encourages witnesses of victims of human trafficking to Text 847411, then type VSP followed by the tip or make a web tip online.

Read the VSP Media Release HERE.

Additional Resources

For more information on human trafficking, visit:

Last Updated: January 6, 2026