Estimating the prevalence of human trafficking in Ohio. [Executive Summary]

Date

2019

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Cincinnati

Abstract

As defined by the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (otherwise known as the Trafficking Victims Protection Act [TVPA]), human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit another person through commercialized sex or involuntary labor. In cases involving minors, however, the use of force, fraud or coercion does not have to be present for the offense to be classified as sex trafficking because a minor cannot legally consent to commercial sex. Although legislation has been created to combat trafficking, estimating the prevalence of these crimes is a complex challenge for researchers across public health, criminal justice, and social service contexts. In the current academic and policy literature there are no agreed upon estimates of the number of human trafficking victims. These efforts are further hindered due to the clandestine nature of human trafficking and the failure to recognize exploitation when it occurs. This is especially true when trying to estimate the number of minors or other individuals with sustained or peripheral contact with other social service agencies and institutions such as the juvenile justice and child welfare systems (Anderson, England, & Davidson, 2017; Cole & Sprang, 2014; Epstein & Edelman, 2014; Finklea, Fernandes-Alcantara, & Siskin, 2015; Gibbs, Walters, Lutnick, Miller, & Kluckman, 2015; Hepburn & Simon, 2010; Laczko & Gozdziak, 2005; Schauer & Wheaton, 2006). Individuals who never make contact with social service providers or justice system agencies pose a different type of challenge because they are never identified for intervention. Thus, the extent of unidentified human trafficking victimization is unknown. Nevertheless, researchers have attempted to quantify the prevalence of these events to better inform prevention efforts. Obtaining accurate and reliable prevalence estimates is essential in defining the scope of human trafficking, understanding where trafficking cases are concentrated and who is affected, and allocating resources and intervention efforts appropriately. In this context, the current study seeks to extend prior research to estimate the prevalence of minors and young adults who are known victims and at risk for trafficking in Ohio. (Author Text)

Description

Keywords

child abuse, research, teens, youth, risk factors, exploitation, CSEC

Citation

Anderson, Valerie R. ; Kulig, Teresa C. ; Sullivan, Christopher J. ; Farrell, Amy. (2019). Estimating the prevalence of human trafficking in Ohio. [Executive Summary] University of Cincinnati. 13p.

DOI