Sex Trafficking in the United States - Expert Chat Webinar, NIJ and Harvard's Government Innovators Network

• NCJ Number: 234735
• Author(s): Swanee Hunt; John Miller; Mark Montgomery; Norma Hotaling
• Date Published: June 2006
• Length: 0 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Presentation (Multimedia); Legislation/Policy Description; Issue Overview

Annotation

This video of a free online webinar convened by the Harvard Government Innovators Network and the National Institute of Justice covers panel presentations on sex trafficking internationally and across and within the United States.

Abstract

One presentation addresses estimates of the prevalence of sex trafficking internationally, across U.S borders and within the United States. Another presentation profiles the persons who are exploited and the techniques used by traffickers to recruit and manipulate persons into commercial sex services. It also discusses ways in which the victims of sex trafficking are further victimized by a criminal justice system that views and treats them as offenders rather than victims. In addition, the traffickers remain anonymous and untouched by law enforcement. Other presentations recommend reforms in the criminal justice system's strategy for countering sex trafficking by viewing and providing services to those trafficked as victims. Services recommended for trafficking victims include trauma recovery services, substance abuse treatment, vocational training, housing assistance, and legal advocacy. They should also be viewed as important witnesses in identifying the traffickers and their criminal methods.