Existing literature on sex trafficking in the United States has extensively discussed the varied profiles of traffickers. However, there is a lack of research on minors trafficking other minors. In this study, data was collected from a Las Vegas police department and 27 cases were found between January 11 to December 2021 where the sex trafficker was under the age of 18. This data was collected to address the following research questions: 1) What are the socio-demographic profiles of minors involved in sex trafficking as offenders, including their age, race/ethnicity, and gender? 2) Whom do minor offenders of sex trafficking typically target or traffic, and what are the characteristics of these victims? and 3) What are the primary methods used by minor offenders to recruit victims into sex trafficking? Results show limited variation in gender and race, and include how victims were identified by law enforcement, behaviors of the traffickers including how they were recruiting and trafficking their victims, the means of control employed by the minor offenders, and case outcomes including arrest information and dispositions. These findings urge action, especially involving schools and youth safety training. School staff can aid in prevention and intervention by recognizing trafficking signs, identifying at-risk students, and reporting suspicions properly. Collaboration between law enforcement, schools, social services, and communities is crucial. It ensures comprehensive support for victims and offenders, offering counseling, rehabilitation, and legal aid. Prevention efforts should educate on healthy relationships, online safety, critical thinking, and digital literacy to empower youth against exploitation.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
PLEASE NOTE: This session will not be available to watch as an on-demand recording.
Ezequiel Dominguez is a PhD student at Arizona State University and a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholar. His research centers on the prevention and detection of human trafficking in the United States, with a specific emphasis on forced labor and exploitation especially among Latinos/as.
Dominique Roe-Sepowitz is an associate professor at ASU's School of Social Work and the director of the Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research. Her work focuses on addressing social issues impacting girls and women, collaborating with partners such as law enforcement, social service providers, and survivor support organizations.