How to... Recognize a Sexually Exploited Youth
 An increasing number of youth are being exploited through prostitution and international sexual trafficking. In the U.S. alone, about 300,000 children are at risk of being commercially sexually exploited. The average age children are forced into the sex industry is 13.”1
To help officers recognize signs of this kind of exploitation of children and youth, Strategies for Youth has prepared a “how to” sheet summarizing current information and best practices on how to recognize, interview and interact with sexually exploited youth. At the end of the “How to” section are links to helpful resources.
SFY believes that minors involved in prostitution and trafficking should be treated as victims, not perpetrators of a crime. Increasingly, prosecutors’ offices are not prosecuting girls under the age of 18. Officers should be clear on how their local police department handles such cases.
To date, prostituted women and girls are ten times more likely to be arrested for selling sex than men are for buying sex but, especially in the context of youth, this approach is changing. For information on targeting purchase of sex with children and methods of deterrence see Abt Associates, “Developing a National Action Plan to Eliminate Sex Trafficking.”2
Remember: while girls are the majority of youth who are trafficked, boys are trafficked, too.
Definition
The term “prostitution” is increasingly falling out of favor and replaced by the terms “commercial sex exploitation of children” (CSEC) and trafficking. Any prostituted person under the age of 18 is by definition a victim of trafficking.
Trafficking: According to the Trafficking Victims Prevention Act of 2000, human sexual trafficking is defined as: “(T)rafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age.”
 How to Recognize Signs of Youth Involved in Sexual Exploitation:
Asking the right questions and looking for small clues will help you identify youth who have been forced or coerced into a life of sexual exploitation. In addition to the obvious act of sexual soliciting, sexually exploited youth are often arrested for abuse of street drugs and survival crimes (shoplifting food and clothing and not paying public transit fares).
A combination of these physical factors together may indicate involvement in sexual exploitation:
- Extreme attire, attire that is not appropriate in weather conditions
- High end labels on shoes, purses, jackets
- Don’t assume youth will be in stereotyped outfits; youth may be wearing puffy coats and over-sized clothing
- Evidence of drug use
- Fatigue and hunger
- Evidence of homelessness
- Recently in custody of the state, group home
- No identification
- Claims to come from another large city
- Exhibits bruises or other physical trauma,
- Wears tattoos used by identified pimps, money and/or gang life
- Often seen in proximity (i.e. he may be watching from across the street or a car) of same male or group of males
- Refuses to make eye contact, looks down while walking
A combination of these emotional factors may indicate involvement in sexual exploitation:
- May swing from withdrawn behavior, depression, and fear to aggression
- Repeated statement of urgent need to leave to get back (vs. go home)
- Initiates discussion of sexual interactions
 Ways of Interacting with Youth Who May Be Involved in Sexual Exploitation:
- Keep strong physical distance
- Developing a relationship with a sexually exploited youth takes a long time and can’t be rushed;
- Assume youth distrusts youth and needs multiple “proofs” of your trustworthiness;
- Anticipate the possibility of a youth making a sexual advance and be prepared with a response
- This may occur if a youth initiates discussion of sexual interactions
- Keep judgment out of your tone and actions
- If youth refers to person as a “boyfriend” use that word, “not pimp.
- Be aware of how gender of officer affects youths’ willingness to speak
- Be aware of physical stance: does it express a threat? Danger? Possibility of overpowering youth? Is anyone standing behind the youth?
- Call local social service agency and prosecutors’ officer to determine alternatives to detention and incarceration.
Ways of Interviewing a Youth Who May Be Involved in Sexual Exploitation:
- Ask what services they need: If the youth appears hungry/malnourished, homeless, offer services:
- Offer resources for shelter, medical services, birth control, food, work training opportunities, education.
- Questions about a youth’s needs can help get to the bottom of the youth’s situation.
- Avoid judgmental questions
- Yes: What do you want to do to get out of the life?
- No: Aren’t you ashamed of what you are doing?
- Ask about travel:
- Youth who boast or makes references to frequent travel to other cities are telling you something
Important Resources
Organizations:
Street Smarts: Homeless LGBT youths are vulnerable to sexploitation
www.sdgln.com/news/2010/12/17/street-smarts-homeless-lgbt-youths-are-vulnerable- sexploitation
Justice for All Report [PDF - slow download]
www.equityproject.org
Girls Education and Mentoring Services
www.gems-girls.org
Identifying Human Trafficking
Administration for Children and Families - Communicating with Victims of Human Trafficking
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/campaign_kits/tool_kit_law/comm_victims.html
Administration for Children and Families - Screening Tool For Victims of Human Trafficking
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/campaign_kits/tool_kit_law/screen_questions.html
Administration for Children and Families - Identifying the Crime of Human Trafficking
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/campaign_kits/tool_kit_law/identify_crime.html
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families - National Human Trafficking Resource Center
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/index.html
Contact information and resources
Homeland Security: Anti-Human Trafficking Resources: Victims
http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc
Polaris Project: Take Action
http://www.polarisproject.org/take-action
Polaris Project: National Human Trafficking Resource Center
www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/national-human-trafficking-hotline/the-nhtrc/overview
White House: Council on Women and Girls
www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/cwg
FBI: Crimes against Children
www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/vc_majorthefts/cac/crimes_against_children
Human Trafficking Fact Sheet for Schools
Human Trafficking of Children in the USA - A Fact Sheet for Schools
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osdfs/factsheet.pdf [PDF]
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of State: Office To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/
U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Dept of Justice: Trafficking and Sex Tourism http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/ceos/trafficking.html
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