Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States

Every day in the United States, children and adolescents are victims of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Despite the serious and long-term consequences for victims as well as their families, communities, and society, efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to these crimes are largely under supported, inefficient, uncoordinated, and unevaluated.Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States examines commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States under age 18. According to this report, efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to these crimes require better collaborative approaches that build upon the capabilities of people and entities from a range of sectors. In addition, such efforts need to confront demand and the individuals who commit and benefit from these crimes. The report recommends increased awareness and understanding, strengthening of the law's response, strengthening of research to advance understanding and to support the development of prevention and intervention strategies, support for multi-sector and interagency collaboration, and creation of a digital information-sharing platform.A nation that is unaware of these problems or disengaged from solutions unwittingly contributes to the ongoing abuse of minors. If acted upon in a coordinated and comprehensive manner, the recommendations of Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States can help advance and strengthen the nation's emerging efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the United States.Table of ContentsFront MatterSummaryPart I: Understanding Commercial Sexual Exploitation and SexTrafficking of Minors in the United States1 Introduction2 The Nature and Extent of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and SexTrafficking of Minors in the United States3 Risk Factors for and Consequences of Commercial SexualExploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors4 Legal FrameworkPart II: Current and Emerging Strategies5 The Legal System6 Victim and Support Services7 Health and Health Care8 The Education Sector9 The Commercial Sector10 Multisector and Interagency CollaborationPart III: Recommendations11 Overall Conclusions and RecommendationsAppendixesAppendix A: Disentangling the Language of Commercial SexualExploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United StatesAppendix B: Lessons Learned from International Efforts to Respondto Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of MinorsAppendix C: Site Visit Methodology and SummariesAppendix D: Workshop and Site Visit AgendasAppendix E: Biosketches of Committee Members and StaffIndex