Sex Trafficking

What is Sex Trafficking?

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. This crime occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will. Force, fraud, or coercion need not be present if the individual engaging in commercial sex is under 18 years of age.

According to a recently released Institute of Medicine (IOC) and National Research Council (NRC) report, Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States, sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, “commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the United States are commonly overlooked, misunderstood, and unaddressed forms of child abuse.”1 This abuse has been found to have both short- and long-term physical, emotional, and legal consequences.

Definition

The IOC/NRC report defines commercial sexual exploitation (i.e., survival sex) and sex trafficking (i.e., prostitution) of minors as a range of crimes that includes

recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, providing, obtaining, and/or maintaining (acts that constitute trafficking) a minor for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation;
exploiting a minor through prostitution;
exploiting a minor through survival sex (exchanging sex/sexual acts for money or something of value, such as shelter, food, or drugs);
exploiting a minor through sex tourism; and
exploiting a minor by having her or him perform in sexual venues (e.g., peep shows, strip clubs).

https://youth.gov/youth-topics/trafficking-of-youth/sexual-exploitation-and-sex-trafficking

Signs and Indicators

A sudden change in attention to personal hygiene
Tattoos, burns, or scars as a form of branding
Having the resources (beyond what is provided by their family or a part time job) for frequent hair, nails, and/or tanning appointments
Dating much older, abusive or controlling men
Large amounts of cash, jewelry or new clothes
hyperarousal or symptoms of anger, panic, phobia, irritability, hyperactivity, frequent crying, temper tantrums, regressive behavior, and/or clinging behavior
hypoarousal or symptoms of daydreaming, inability to bond with others, inattention, forgetfulness, and/or shyness
inability to attend school on a regular basis and/or unexplained absences
frequently running away from home
references made to frequent travel to other cities
Hotel room keys
Fake ID
Large amounts of cash, jewelry or new clothes
Signs of physical assault or unexplained injuries (branding or tattooing, fractures, bruising, black eyes)

Human Trafficking In America's Schools:

This guide is intended to provide:

awareness of the current prevalence of child trafficking and the forms it takes;
information on risk factors and indicators of child trafficking;
details about three prevention tiers and the implications for schools’ role in addressing child trafficking;
information on how professional development of school staff and prevention education for students and families can reduce the likelihood of trafficking; and
details on how policies, protocols, and partnerships with other community sectors can help prevent trafficking.