2012 Trafficking In Persons Final Report.pdf - NCJTC Home

FINAL REPORT
Limitations
Exploratory research is often used to gather information on a topic or problem; or to expand current
knowledge on a particular issue. Exploratory research is not meant to draw causal connections between variables;
or determine the effectiveness of interventions, policies or specific approaches. This study represents an important
step towards understanding child sex and labor trafficking, developing new topics for discussion, and ideas for
more rigorous empirical inquiry. There are some limitations to these efforts that should be highlighted to improve
future research. For instance, the sample of project participants was dominated by law enforcement representation.
Future exploration studies should include more members of the medical community, child welfare agencies,
community partners and tribal representatives. A balanced sample would incorporate subjects from all organizations
and agencies involved in addressing child labor and sex trafficking. Further, the study employed mixed focus
groups to explore trafficking themes and topics. Several participants noted that the discussion of these issues may
have been better served if the groups were comprised of representatives with similar experiences and professional
backgrounds. Exploratory researchers should carefully consider their subjects to ensure a representative sample,
and using both focus group types to fully utilize the expertise of the study participants.
Next Steps
Data collected from Symposium participants highlight several avenues of future research, policy and
programming. Chief among these is education - educating responders on how to appropriately handle child
trafficking victims and engage them in the justice process; education for all on how to recognize the problem;
and education for at-risk youth on the warning signs of child trafficking. There is also much to be learned about
how to locate young victims and get them on the road to a healthy life. The risk factors associated with victimization
are well documented and law enforcement working to locate exploited children should use this knowledge
to target high-risk youth. Data systems capable of flagging high-risk youth and pushing this information out to
responders is very important in anti-trafficking efforts and should be a top priority at the local, state and federal
level. Further, traditional juvenile programs and treatment models have not been especially successful with
trafficking victims and researchers and practitioners need to rethink their approach with these victims. Prevention
efforts also have to address both the supply and demand for child trafficking victims. Increasing prosecution of
traffickers and end users is critical to decreasing demand for young victims. Finally, local, state, tribal and federal
partners must develop partnerships to ensure that all aspects of the system are working together efficiently to fight
child trafficking.
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