The U.S. has been increasingly criticized by survivors and advocates for arresting trafficking victims rather than providing them assistance. Prosecuting survivors not only hinders their recovery but adds another layer of institutional trauma to their experiences while excluding them from many recovery programs. The presenters explore the alarming trend of the federal government charging sex trafficking victims with sex trafficking, criminalizing individuals who have already endured exploitation. This project conducts an analysis of case, outcome, and demographic information from federal sex trafficking cases between 2001 - 2024, pulling from Department of Justice records as well as media reporting on cases. By examining trends in these cases over time, particularly ways that sex trafficking victims face charges alongside or instead of their traffickers, this research illustrates the devastating consequences of this practice. The researchers challenge the notion that such prosecutions enhance public safety, arguing that they actually deter victims from seeking help and cooperating with law enforcement in investigations against traffickers. The roles of race and gender and concepts of ‘ideal victims’ inform the analysis of institutional mechanisms that not only allow such cases to be prosecuted but reward agencies who participate in this process. This research is relevant to advocates, academics, and policymakers focused on human trafficking, criminal justice, and victim advocacy, and has practical application to anti-trafficking legislation and programs. The presenters call for urgent reforms to protect and support sex trafficking survivors, rather than further criminalizing them, and in this project explore stronger and more supportive institutional processes.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Tatiana Rothchild is a PhD candidate in Political Science at Northeastern University. Her research focuses on human trafficking at national and international levels, particularly in areas of problem framing, state coercion, workers’ rights, human rights audit culture, and international policy models.
Tara Burns is a sex worker, trafficking survivor, and writer/researcher who received her Interdisciplinary Masters in Social Justice from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She has lobbied successfully to change Alaska’s prostitution and sex trafficking laws as a board member of the Community United for Safety and Protection.