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 Contents


Front Matter
Summary
Part I: Understanding Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States
1 Introduction
2 The Nature and Extent of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States
3 Risk Factors for and Consequences of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors
4 Legal Framework
Part II: Current and Emerging Strategies
5 The Legal System
6 Victim and Support Services
7 Health and Health Care
8 The Education Sector
9 The Commercial Sector
10 Multisector and Interagency Collaboration
Part III: Recommendations
11 Overall Conclusions and Recommendations
Appendixes
Appendix A: Disentangling the Language of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States
Appendix B: Lessons Learned from International Efforts to Respond to Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors
Appendix C: Site Visit Methodology and Summaries
Appendix D: Workshop and Site Visit Agendas
Appendix E: Biosketches of Committee Members and Staff
Index