Sex trafficking investigations in Maricopa County are climbing fast, and the county's top prosecutor is trying to get ahead of it with a new public-awareness blitz. County Attorney Rachel Mitchell says referrals to her office have jumped sharply in recent years, and her team is rolling out "Break the Chain" to help residents, businesses and frontline workers spot exploitation that often hides in plain sight.
Mitchell told reporters that submittals from law enforcement rose from 107 in 2023 to 172 in 2025, roughly a 60 percent increase, a surge she describes as dramatic and a key reason for launching the new campaign. That figure and Mitchell's remarks were reported by Arizona's Family, which covered her Jan. 22 news conference.
What Break the Chain Will Do
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office says the "Break the Chain" initiative will deploy social, digital and TV ads and send tailored resources to hotels, nightlife venues, schools and other places where victims or buyers might surface. The campaign's goals and materials are laid out on the office's human trafficking prevention page, and procurement records show a task order was issued this winter to bring in marketing support for the outreach. Those details are spelled out on the Maricopa County Attorney's Office site and in a related notice on BidNet Direct.
Partners And Where Officials Are Focusing
Mitchell's office has been partnering with Phoenix Police, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Grand Canyon University Police and other local agencies at community forums, including an event at Grand Canyon University near the stretch of 27th Avenue and Indian School Road that locals know as "the Blade." That focus on specific corridors and institutions is outlined in recent Maricopa County community bulletins on human trafficking prevention. Partner agencies and event details are listed in a Maricopa County bulletin.
How Neighbors Can Report
If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. The Arizona Human Trafficking Tip Line is also available 24/7 at 1-877-4AZ-TIPS (1-877-429-8477) and online; the tip line is operated through the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center and provides non-law-enforcement on-call support, referrals and case management for victims. For hotline details and resources, see azactic.gov.
Enforcement Activity And Context
Valley law enforcement has ramped up sting operations and multi-agency sweeps in recent years, and those efforts, along with online grooming investigations, are helping drive more cases to prosecutors. Previous coordinated operations in the region have led to hundreds of arrests, highlighting a broader enforcement push among city and county agencies. Local reporting on those sweeps helps explain the rise in submittals, including coverage from FOX 10 Phoenix.
County officials say the real foundation of the effort is awareness and reporting. Traffickers count on silence and isolation, and the attorney's office is pushing out materials so businesses, schools and neighbors know what red flags to watch for. For tips, training tools and the county's guidance on warning signs, visit the Maricopa County Attorney's Office human trafficking prevention page.
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