2012 Trafficking In Persons Final Report.pdf - NCJTC Home

FINAL REPORT
Summary of Results
The study examined several issues salient to effectively addressing child trafficking including: Identification,
Engaging Victims, Investigation and Prosecution, Response, Restoration and the Survivor Perspective. SME
responses demonstrate that identifying victims and offenders is complicated by a number of factors including:
cultural considerations, the hidden nature of the crime, the unique nature of the victim/offender relationship, the
age of the victim, and society's perception of the issue. While there are common characteristics among victims
such as strained family relationships, truancy and abuse; the developmental features of adolescents them all atrisk
for exploitation by traffickers. Traffickers, in contrast, vary considerably by culture, location and type of exploitation.
There are few similarities among them other than indifference for human rights and quest for financial
gain; although many are intelligent and skilled at manipulation and psychological control. While there are similarities
between traditional crime organizations and trafficking rings; traffickers tend to have smaller operations,
fewer connections to other traffickers, and less structure to the criminal enterprise. Locating victims and targeting
offenders requires an understanding of unique aspects of each group. Then using what is known to identify potential
and actual victims; and punish traffickers and those who exploit children. Improving identification is also, in
part, dependent on consistent data collection techniques or a national tracking system that flags high-risk youth
and captures information on case outcomes.
Engaging victims is equally complex as most youth ensnared in sex or labor trafficking feel that they are
consenting to the exploitation and/or do not have better options. This makes self-identification unlikely, cooperation
with law enforcement difficult and complicates traditional treatment models built on an assumption that
the person wants to change their behavior. Involving youth in the criminal justice process must be built upon an
firm understanding of how traumatized they are, and effective strategies for helping them understand their own
victimization and programming to help take them from trafficking victim to trafficking survivor. Criminal justice
representatives also need to clearly understand that these youth are victims and not offenders; and treat them as
such. Finally, there are serious cultural considerations that impact how cooperative a victim will be with investigators,
prosecutors, and social services. It is critical that these are understood prior to engaging a victim, and that
cooperation includes culturally sensitive restoration efforts.
Child trafficking investigation and prosecution, in addition, to the challenges of victim engagement, is
hindered by cross-border/jurisdictional collaboration, federal/state/tribal cooperation, and a lack of appropriate
services. Investigation and prosecution practices must include appropriately trained personnel, focus on both traffickers
and exploiters, and have effective programming in place for victims. A critical component to this process
is trained interviewers who understand how child sex and labor trafficking victims view themselves, law enforcement,
and the criminal justice system. Interviewers need to be culturally sensitive and attuned to the developmental
age of the victim. Law enforcement and prosecutors need to collaborate with community, tribal and state
partners to ensure that safe and appropriate placements are available for victims. Finally, prosecutors need to rely
heavily on non-victim based evidence in child trafficking cases.
One thing is clear about child trafficking - traditional responses and victim treatment approaches - are
not necessarily appropriate or successful with sex and labor trafficking victims. Most victims have a history of
substance use, abuse, and difficulties in school and trouble at home; problems compounded by sex and labor
37