Sex Trafficking and Illegal Prostitution
Sex Trafficking and Illegal Prostitution
Sex Trafficking and Illegal Prostitution
Webster University
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 2
Executive Summary
• Issue Presented
The issue presented throughout this article concerns the accumulating rates of sex trafficking, the
second largest criminal industry in the world and affecting more than thirty million people, and
illegal prostitution throughout the United States. By gathering evidence from numerous scholars
and authors, nearly each one of them had a different definition presented within their research of
what sex trafficking truly is (Perkins & Ruiz, 2017). Sex trafficking is known to many as
inhumane. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act describes sex trafficking as “a commercial
sex act [that] is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform
such act has not attained 18 years of age” (Heil & Nichols, 2014). Prostitution is very similar to
sex trafficking, except prostitution is more known for being voluntary and not forced by a
trafficker. Although it may be voluntary, prostitutes usually don’t fall into a good lifestyle when
they chose this path. Many people will argue that if prostitution was legalized worldwide, the
rates of sex trafficking would decrease. I use research and evidence to back up my policy
proposal that will prove the legalization of prostitution won’t deter the rate of sex trafficking as
Traffickers, also known as ‘Johns’, use many different techniques and tactics to sell their
‘business’, which are their victims. The use of internet has become the number one area that
they sell victims and gather clients. The issue with sex trafficking is that most of their victims
aren’t even at 18 years of age, just barely teenagers. My policy claims that the United States
needs to implement harsher penalties on sex trafficking and be more aware of what is going on.
Becoming tougher on traffickers will encourage victims to speak up, having faith that their
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 3
perpetrator will be caught. I have included information regarding The Trafficking Victims
Protection Act, The Act of Prohibition on Sex Trafficking, the H.R. 3887, and the Mann Act
upon many other scholarly articles. The causation for sex trafficking is because it’s quick, fast
and usually a large sum of money for barely any work by the trafficker or John. Also, prostitutes
may live with their John or pimp, who will give them a ‘luxurious’ lifestyle such as pedicures
and taking them to hair salons. There are also numerous sex work advocates who have fought
for legal prostitution and who still actively work in the industry.
• Target Population
The target population of sex trafficking is really anyone. The most common are young females,
immigrants, and women. Usually, young women are involved in prostitution, but there can be
Creating more awareness of sex trafficking worldwide is the most important step. People aren’t
aware of how frequently this happens and that it happens right outside their own homes.
Professionals must realize that social interaction with these victims is the key for them to want
and accept help. Social workers can play a huge role, as they provide resources and services.
The House of Representatives also could pass policies that are tougher on traffickers and pimps.
Law enforcement officials should be more aware of prostitution and sex trafficking. By
monitoring the popular areas, traffickers are more likely to be caught. There has to be an increase
in undercover officers to catch these criminals. The court must be able to gather evidence that
crime as committed. If the victim is under the age of 18, it's sex trafficking. Continuous efforts,
education, and awareness will decrease sex trafficking and illegal prostitution rates.
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 4
Known as the second largest criminal industry worldwide, sex trafficking is known to
affect more than thirty million people and has many different definitions and terms. (Perkins and
Ruiz, 2017). Overall, sex trafficking is illegal and inhumane. As defined by The Trafficking
Victims Protection Act (TVPA), sex trafficking is "a commercial sex act [that] is induced by
force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18
years of age" (Heil & Nichols, 2014). Even if the child is sixteen years of age and agrees to have
sex for a profit, he or she cannot legally be a prostitute because they are not over the age of
eighteen. Prostitution is another issue within the United States that is somewhat very similar to
sex trafficking. The difference between prostitution and sex trafficking is that prostitution is
more likely to be voluntary by the female or victim themselves. Some individuals decide to sell
their bodies to make a profit and to make a living. Sex trafficked victims are forced, drugged,
raped. Prostitutes usually fall into the hole of drugs, gangs and a violent lifestyle also. Many
studies have been done to determine if the legalization of prostitution would limit the rates of sex
trafficking. Nevada is the only U.S. State that has legalized prostitution. They have legal
brothels everywhere new Las Vegas, Nevada. I have incorporated material that covers sex
trafficking, prostitution, issues within the legal system and an abundance of information
Plaguing the United States, and the entire world around us, human sex trafficking has
become a widespread issue that has been publicized and politically noticed more often now than
ever before. Traffickers have found various different routes to take to gather clients, advertise
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 5
their victims, and even promote children. They use websites, such as Backpage.com, word of
mouth on the streets and even advertisements in the community newspaper. (Heil & Nichols,
2014). Policymakers and law enforcement have tirelessly worked to shut down these websites
that promote sex trafficking by advertisements. Although this is a positive aspect of what has
occurred thus far in attempting to lower rates of sex trafficking, traffickers have now found low-
profile online advertising sites, such as change.com, social media websites and even slang terms
on advertisement sites. (Heil & Nichols, 2014). My policy proposal examines sex trafficking
and prostitution. Will legalizing prostitution in all fifty states lower the rate of sex trafficking?
The United States needs to implement harsher penalties on sex trafficking and be more aware of
what is going on. By getting tougher on traffickers, encouraging victims to speak up and step
forward and by determining if the legalization of prostitution would limit illegal sex trades, my
policy will decrease illegal sex trafficking. The main focus of my policy is to aim at convicting
traffickers with harsher penalties. Included is information regarding The Trafficking Victims
Protection Act, The Act of Prohibition on Sex Trafficking, the H.R. 3887, and the Mann Act.
As mentioned, the internet is the number one source traffickers use to sell sex to buyers.
Studies show that in 2008, there were 2,800 reports of advertisements that attempted to sell
women and children for sexual services. (Heil & Nichols, 2014). Trafficking has higher rates in
certain areas, but in many studies that have been conducted, it has been found that trafficking
advertisements occur most frequently online. By using the internet, traffickers have the potential
to get clientele from anywhere in the world. Police and law enforcement are able to access these
websites and gather evidence to help save these victims. Anyone can access the dark web, which
is a website that many illegal things are sold. By law enforcement accessing these websites and
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 6
staying up-to-date with any new information, they may be able to identify a missing person who
Heil and Nichols use information from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and
their actions of searching suspicious ads on websites, such as the dark web. An example used
within their research study is the St. Louis officers noticed a young female who was supposedly
nineteen years of age with out-of-state area code. The police pretended to be an interested buyer,
met the trafficker at a local hotel and arrested him and saved the young girl. (Heil & Nichols,
2014). By law enforcement monitoring these websites that sex trafficking is on, they can prevent
a further crime of trafficking. The victim of this trafficker reports that she had been trafficked
out for nearly six months, was emotionally, physically and psychologically abused and the
trafficker even broke her nose when she was not cooperating. There are many reasons
traffickers, also known as Johns, use the internet for their business. Many websites are free of
charge, a lot of them are popular and have many people viewing them, and also using the internet
to promote sex trafficking is actually legal for the John. (Heil & Nichols, 2014). Yes, it is legal
for the John. This is true because the trafficker will use certain language to sell ‘dates' to frame
what is really happening. As mentioned, law enforcement and officials worked endlessly to shut
down websites that promoted the sale of sex trafficking and prostitution, but studies revealed that
these traffickers still sold services on other websites by just using different slang. Some of these
services were sold under therapeutic massages. There have been signs that are pointed out to
determine if it's trafficking though, such as there not being an option to enter a payment method
via the internet. An issue that has been noticed with shutting down these sites is that Johns has
thought up different ideas to advertise their women. One example is that they place fliers around
certain areas of the city for a ‘party'. This flyer will identify a location, time and crowd that will
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 7
be present. When traffickers were able to post women on websites, officials were more likely
Another issue with sex trafficking and prostitution is that many young individuals who
find themselves involved with these two issues usually has been a part of social services. An
example of this is a young child who grew up in numerous foster homes. Some of the victims
are juvenile delinquents who had no parental supervision and wanted to grow up too quickly,
thinking some man could ‘save their life’. If a young girl is getting physically or sexually
abused, her self-worth may not be as it should be. When someone is feeling helpless, they
usually are willing to do anything to fill a gap in their happiness. Gathering a solid grasp on
cracking down on traffickers and Johns is a goal that criminal agencies should aim towards, as
Sexually Transmitted Infections are at an all-time high within the United States. Minsoo
Jung conducted a study regarding South Korean women involved in sex trafficking and
prostitution and the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). Due to the high rates of
STI’s among women in South Korea and many other aspects, the Act of Prohibition on Sex
Trafficking (PST Act) was passed in 2005. (Jung, 2017). Female sex workers were either full-
time female sex workers who are cycled through sex trafficking and there are also women who
work at establishments that offer prostitution as a ‘side-business’, known as brothels, while the
establishment sells alcohol or other forms of entertainment. (Jung, 2017). Jung conducted a
comparative national survey among sixteen women who are connected to sex trafficking more
than being employed at brothels. He used this information in collaboration with the Korea
Federation for HIV/AIDS Prevention. Jung implemented time location sampling, where he
could gather women at certain locations and certain times to participate in his survey. There
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 8
were two surveys conducted, one in 2008 and the other in 2014. In 2008, there were roughly
1,083 respondents and in 2014 nearly 926 respondents. (Jung, 2017). The individual survey was
roughly fifteen minutes each. With permission from the women, lab tests such as urine samples
and blood samples were collected by a physician and laboratory technician. The survey
considered past results of participants who were already infected with active syphilis and/or
gonorrhea. The age range of the participants from both the 2008 study and 2014 study ranged
from twenty to thirty years of age. Nearly seventy-five percent of participants were recent high
school graduates, just barely eighteen years of age. (Jung, 2017). The percentage of women who
had an STI in 2008 was significantly higher than those who had an STI in 2014. Although these
rates dropped within the study, STI's are still a very contagious disease. (Jung, 2017). South
Korea's legislation of the PST Act is believed to have had a significant effect on STI rates. If the
United States could implement some type of measures such as South Korea, there may be a drop
in STI rates.
Causes of being involved with sex trafficking are very severe, as they create numerous
issues with mental health. Victims could have anxiety, not knowing what the client may do to
them. They may resort to substance abuse to forget about what occurs in their daily lives. Or,
they may be addicted to drugs because their John forces drugs on them. Stress disorders may
develop because these victims may not be sure they will make it another day with the conditions
they are forced to live in. Once a victim is identified and returned back to society, they may
have severe post-traumatic-stress-disorder fearing what could happen in their future. Victims
may possess self-harming behaviors due to not wanting to be known as a sex trafficked victim.
As stated, some victims may contract an STI they cannot get cured, such as genital herpes or
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 9
genital warts. Human sex trafficking has been referred to society's new form of slavery, and
there are many reasons, stories, and evidence to back up that statement.
There are many causes of sex trafficking and prostitution. As mentioned above, my
policy is trying to solve the growing rate of sex trafficking and illegal prostitution by becoming
tougher on sex trafficking and prostitution laws. There are many problems associated with these
two aspects. People are always wanting to make money and have financial support. There are
also many people in the World who are not willing to work for money and want it quickly and
easily. Issues also arise when the prosecution places factual evidence before the courts. It can
be very difficult to actually prove force, fraud or coercion. (Elrod, 2015). Also, victims of sex
trafficking may not want to testify against their pimp, as they feel they are in a relationship with
the pimp. Pimps will keep all of the victims' earnings but pay for them to receive luxuries such
as manicures and pedicures, hair salon visits, free drugs and the feeling of being loved. These
pimps ‘spoil' their victims to keep the victims from turning against them and to keep profit
flowing in. The victims may not feel like they have ever had a sense of love, support or family
connection. By being a part of illegal prostitution or sex trafficking, they are intertwined with
other victims the pimp has control over and the pimp. Created are a sense of belonging, love and
the feeling of being wanted. Some victims do not want to give up the life the pimp has created
for them because they would rather live the brainwashed lifestyle instead of receiving help. In
contrast, pimps may threaten their victims that if they rat on them they will kill the victim and his
or her family. This is a scare tactic used by many traffickers, threatening victims of their horrific
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 10
business. Victims may also be addicted to drugs, making it difficult to make any decisions
themselves at all.
Also, as mentioned in John Elrod’s article, sex-work advocates who are involved in the
commercial sex industry may claim that they are exercising their right to work in an agency of
their choice. (Elrod, 2015). Sex-work advocates usually do not see the connection between
prostitution and sex trafficking, although the connection is very apparent to others. These sex-
work advocates fight for a woman’s right to make her own decision to sell sex for a profit. As
long as these advocates continue to fight, there will always be an illegal prostitution issue within
Many people, including sex-work advocates, have fought for legal prostitution within the United
States. Two authors state their opinions on the legalization of prostitution and the benefits that
could rise, Ronald Weitzer and Shay Rego. Rego suggests that since sex work is one of the most
dangerous jobs, legalizing it would decrease the number of attacks on women and death rates.
Also, Rego suggests that the legalization of prostitution would decrease the rate of sexual assault
cases and the percentage of spread sexually transmitted diseases. First of all, the rate of sexual
assaults will not decrease with the legalization of prostitution. By engaging in sexual activity by
one who plans to assault another individual does not want to pay money or a fee to receive their
perception of pleasure. Statistics show that nearly fifty percent of female rape victims are
assaulted by an intimate partner while nearly forty-one percent are sexually assaulted by an
reported sexual assault cases, it makes me wonder if these scholars truly studied rape reports and
believe that legalizing prostitution will decrease this issue. Nearly eighty percent of rape victims
knew the perpetrator. (NSVRC). Those who purchase sexual favors probably do not know the
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 11
female or male they are receiving services from. Also, if Rego believes that there would be a
decrease in sexually transmitted diseases, there would be an increase in services with the
legalization of prostitution which would more than likely lead to an increase in sexually
transmitted disease rates. Rego also suggests within his article that the rates of sex trafficking
would decrease with this legalization. Incorporated is a reference to the article Human
Lee and Persson conducted research regarding voluntary prostitutes and coerced
prostitutes to try and gage where they can be changed so that the rate of trafficking can decrease
since criminalization of buying and selling sex has so far proven to be very ineffective. Lee and
Persson mention how many people view prostitution as structural violence, due to the
exploitation occurring because of societal biases and inequalities. (Lee & Persson, 2018). Also
mentioned is weak agency, which represents someone still inflicting self-harm although they are
voluntarily participating in the act. Lee and Persson's last and final point are that there are
moralistic arguments of the legalization of prostitution. Legalizing prostitution can cause values
and norms to change within society, creating the image that selling sex is something that is
acceptable to do.
information on red-light districts and sex work. (Publishers Weekly, 2011). The three cities of
focus for Weitzer were Antwerp, Belgium, Frankfurt, Germany, and Amsterdam, the
can target each in a certain way. Since there are different types, such as independent escorts
compared to streetwalkers, Weitzer claims that there are different paths to take to eliminate each.
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 12
Weitzer argues that prostitution can be organized, claiming that “in-door prostitutes” suffer less
Simon Hedlin has a similar article to the authors stated above, as he explores within his
article if prostitution law reform and curb sex trafficking. Hedlin bases his research off of three
aspects within his study. First of all, instead of focusing on the criminalization of selling sex he
concentrates on whether or not buying sex is legal or illegal. He incorporates a dataset used by
the European Union to determine if prostitution had a prevalence of sex trafficking. (Hedlin,
2017). Lastly, he provides a “Difference-in-Differences” analysis that has limited data from the
Norwegian reform. As Hedlin claims, his evidence is theoretical results that are usually based on
assumptions without proven facts and lack of evidence. He claims that there needs to be more
qualitative and quantitative research performed regarding prostitution and sex trafficking.
Target Population. Many individuals who are trafficked out are very young in age. The
target population of victims is, of course, younger people due to their vulnerability and fewer life
experiences. Younger individuals also are not fully developed mentally or physically, therefore
they do not make the best decisions. Skilled traffickers also know to look for those who have
had past abuse. They may search Facebook for a young girl who posts about her terrible home
life, or the young boy who walks home late at night alone because he has little-to-no parental
supervision. As mentioned within Elizabeth B. Perkins and Carey Ruiz's research study,
adolescents who have drug-addicted parents are also more likely to fall into the sex trafficking
world. As mentioned, there is a lack of supervision, there could be Johns coming in and out of
homes for drugs, and children may ‘run' away from home due to frustration or the feeling of not
being protected by their parent. Perkins and Ruiz also mentioned that Child Protective Services
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 13
involvement with a child makes them more likely to be involved with a trafficker, pimp or John.
Going into foster homes and group homes, traffickers know they can target those locations.
Children want the feeling of being loved and protected, and they get brainwashed into believing
Wim Huisman and Edward R. Kleemans conduct research regarding sex trafficking in the
Netherlands with legalized prostitution. (2014). Discussed is the debate of legalized prostitution
limiting the number of victims that endure sex trafficking. Some believe that legalization of
prostitution may provide more insight into the life of a prostitute and can provide more
information law officials can use in court. Others believe that the legalization of prostitution
may lead to more illegal sex trafficking. Research has proven that, with the legalization of
prostitution, sex trafficking still is evident and thriving. (Huisman & Kleemans, 2014).
Manipulation of victims, social relationships, violence, and threats are some factors that may
keep victims from speaking up about what they are faced with on a daily basis. Due to human
sex trafficking cases being lengthier and more complex than other regular criminal investigation
cases, they are more drawn out and more difficult to prove due to lack of evidence.
and John Tutelman all contribute studies to Project ROSE: An Arrest Alternative for Victims of
Sex Trafficking and Prostitution. (2014). This article covers information regarding victims of
sex-trafficking and older adults who are prostituted out for profit. It is often difficult to determine
if sex trafficking victims are sex-workers or not. The main two groups I am aiming my policy
proposal at is sex trafficked victims and prostitutes. Based on the evidence I have gathered from
my sources, I do believe it would be beneficial information for anyone. Many victims come
from broken homes, have been sexually or physically abused, or have had a difficult upbringing.
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 14
Spreading awareness of these issues will educate more people and may change the path they take
in life.
Focusing on sex-workers and prostitutes, they may feel challenged to leave the business
they are in due to threats and potential danger for themselves and their loved ones. Also, they
may be addicted to drugs and have no means to access drugs without their pimp. Considering
that one prostitute isn't the only victim usually in a home, there are other women who are able to
connect with one another about the situations. This creates a sense of ‘community' for some,
giving them a support system. Breaking away from their support system could demolish their
sense of stability within life. Mental health issues could worsen as they are taken from what
they've known, creating larger issues for that individual. Gaining an education and employment
could be difficult also, as a victim could have been a part of sex trafficking for years without any
high school education or work experience. Officials need to find ways to create a smoother
flowing transition for these victims exiting sex trafficking. There has to be actual motivation a
willingness for there to change. Support services should be implemented into a victims' life as
soon as they are removed from prostitution. Implementing these services as quick as possible
can result in better life outcomes for the victim in the future.
Responsible Authority. There are many different individuals responsible for limiting the
rates of sex trafficking. When a large group of individuals works together to eliminate
something, the more the word gets out about the issue. Making more people aware of sex
trafficking and just how common it is will help people pay more attention to this issue and know
how victims are led into the sex trafficking world, where they may be kidnapped, how to identify
a victim and how to prevent this issue altogether. It is important for professionals to realize that
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 15
social interaction about sex trafficking is a key factor in helping these victims. Mental health
professionals should aim at trying to get to know the client that has been trafficked, as each
individual reacts differently to what they are told. An example used within Perkins and Ruiz's
study is a girl who is told she is a victim by a counselor. Some young girls may feel liberated at
being called a victim, while others may feel a sense of disempowerment. (Perkins & Ruiz, 2017).
Realizing that these individuals who are rescued from sex trafficking have to find their new
personal identity is very important and something that everyone should accept instead of trying
to push socialization tactics on them. Julie Orme and Fariyal Ross-Sheriff claim that within their
article Sex Trafficking Policies, programs, and Services that social workers should have a bigger
impact on sex trafficking victims that what they already possess. Orme and Ross-Sheriff suggest
that social workers should work towards providing more prevention programs and should
promote cultural norms. Also, advocating for stronger policies can benefit victims.
Penalties for traffickers, buyers and those who promote sex trafficking and illegal
prostitution are already extreme. A trafficker can face up to twenty years in confinement in
federal prison if caught. Adding in more factors of the victims, such as death, abuse, violence,
and many more possibilities can result in an even longer term to face. Some inmates are to serve
life in prison for the extreme measures they took as a sex trafficker. When children, which
counts as an individual under the age of eighteen, is involved in sex trafficking then penalties get
stricter. If an individual is caught trying to attempt to sell out a victim or purchase their services,
The House of Representatives passed the H.R. 3887 in 2007 in hopes of increasing courts
ability to identify traffickers and pimps and to bring them to face their criminal charges. This
bill failed in the Senate, but the idea of the bill is very important and with some strengthening, it
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 16
could be passed. After the house did pass this bill, a numerous amount of third parties interacted
with it, including sex-work advocates and the DOJ. The DOJ declined the bill due to
"unnecessary alteration to its "successful anti-trafficking strategy" that had previously been
implemented" and also claimed that the prosecution of traffickers would detract if this bill was
passed. (Elrod, 2015). The sex-work advocates protested that they have a right to willingly sell
sex for profit and that there is a major difference in sex trafficking and consensual prostitution.
Elrod includes ideas to add to the already-existing Mann Act—18 U.S.C. § 2422(a). (Elrod,
2015). Congress would best serve this new legal regime. Elrod included more information to fill
gaps that were present in the H.R. 3887 by including inducement and enticement within his new
idea. Similar to Elrod's idea, Congress would be best to implement any new bill associated with
sex trafficking and illegal prostitution. Congress will be responsible for carrying out a stronger
policy aiming at convicting traffickers with harsher penalties. Agencies that work together can
also be more successful at limiting sex trafficking and illegal prostitution rates. Bordering states
should be in communication regarding these issues as many victims are transported from
different areas and do not stay in one place for very long. Multi-agency cooperation regarding
sex trafficking within criminal investigation procedures would greatly benefit the United States.
Provisions and Procedures of the Policy. The current sex-trafficking oriented legislation
at both the federal and state levels have implemented laws and consequences to this issue. But,
the effectiveness of these regulations has become questionable. (Elrod, 2015). There are already
many acts that have been put in place to attempt to protect victims from human sex trafficking.
The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) was implemented in 2000 as a piece of
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 17
legislation that was intended to demolish sex trafficking globally. (Elrod, 2015). The TVPA has
three primary aspects; prosecuting traffickers, protesting human trafficking victims, and
preventing human trafficking worldwide. (Elrod, 2015). If these three aspects of the TVPA were
successful, then sex trafficking and illegal prostitution would no longer be an issue. That is why
I believe that our country needs to get tougher on sex traffickers and illegal prostitution.
Narrowing down on a policy to try and eliminate one negative aspect of sex trafficking at a time
may be more successful than such a broad policy. The focus of my policy is to crack down on
traffickers with more harsh penalties. As mentioned, sex trafficking is forced labor. Within the
U.S. Code, there are federal laws and legislation passed by Congress relating to the TVPA.
Similarly, to South Korea, the United States also has Preventing Sex Trafficking and
Strengthening Families Act of 2014. This act has to do more with children involved with Child
Protective Services, who are involved in the foster system. The Justice for Victims of
Trafficking Act was passed in 2015 which focuses on services that are available for victims of
this issue while promoting information regarding the criminal liability of buyers and promoters
of illegal prostitution. This is led by the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. The
TVPA has taken great measures to increase prosecution of traffickers, but is it aggressive
enough?
The provisions of my policy, which is centered around being tougher on traffickers and
those involved with the purchasing of services, there are certain conditions that must be met in
order for it to be effective. First of all, courts have to have evidence that the crime was
committed. Evidence of forcible sex for profit, evidence that victims initially did not willingly
come into the business, and evidence of sex trafficking and/or illegal prostitution. If a victim is
under the age of eighteen, there is immediate information that prosecutors can use. Traffickers
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 18
know that their victims are underage, and if a victim could admit that he or she engaged in sexual
behaviors for a profit then the trafficker is committing a crime due to the age of the victim. The
victim could claim that he or she willingly engaged in the sexual activity, but since they are
younger than eighteen years of age the trafficker or pimp is still guilty. Law enforcement must
be tougher on cracking down these crimes. It is very difficult to prove that one is illegally being
trafficked, but with more undercover cops examining areas of high trafficking, there could be
some improvement. Although they already do, law enforcement could increase the number of
undercover officers who act as interested buyers to crack down on victims. With an increase in
security, traffickers will become aware that law enforcement is onto them. Drugs are usually
within the vicinity of where prostitution and sex trafficking are taking place. Similarly, using
under over officers to purchase drugs could lead to uncovering traffickers. The undercover law
enforcement officials could also be successful at saving individuals from sex trafficking.
‘Purchasing' sex from traffickers gives them the opportunity to be alone with the victims,
convincing them to leave as they do not have to opportunity often. Officers can provide the
victims with immediate help and assistance, taking them to the hospital to receive any medical
procedures that may need to be completed as well as mental health evaluations to put services in
place. Some survivors of sex trafficking are lost without any home or family, so having shelters
with openings at all times is important for these survivors to go until they can figure out where to
live.
Using the evidence that the undercover officers will discover, prosecutors must carry out
legal criminal actions to be faced by these traffickers and pimps. Making them face some type of
penalty will prove to others that this is not okay. Congress, law enforcement agencies and
officials should advertise the harm that sex trafficking does to individuals, and with the
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 19
increasing rates, it has become an issue for the United States. Law enforcement must be
continuous in their efforts to track down these traffickers and the victims. Persuading the victims
to leave as the opportunity comes is important also. The more victims that speak up, the more
information and evidence law enforcement will have and will be able to provide to the courts.
Congress can use more evidence and information in strengthening legislation and their laws
towards prostitution and sex trafficking. Regulatory enforcement by cities is very important as
criminal investigations on traffickers is dependent upon this. (Huisman & Kleemans, 2014).
Continuously monitoring areas that are well known for prostitution is very important, as placing
traffickers of that area with criminal liabilities may help at easing the rate of sex trafficking.
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking 20
References
Perkins, E., & Ruiz, C. (2017). Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking in a Rural State: Interviews with
Adjudicated Female Juveniles. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 34(2), 171–180.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-016-0455-3
Huisman, W., & Kleemans, E. (2014). The challenges of fighting sex trafficking in the legalized
prostitution market of the Netherlands. Crime, Law & Social Change, 61(2), 215–228.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-013-9512-4
Jung, M. (2017). Effects of implementing the act of prohibition on sex trafficking on female sex
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0182465
Roe-Sepowitz, D., Gallagher, J., Hickle, K., Pérez Loubert, M., & Tutelman, J. (2014). Project
ROSE: An Arrest Alternative for Victims of Sex Trafficking and Prostitution. Journal of
Elrod, J. (2015). Filling the Gap: Refining Sex Trafficking Legislation to Address the Problem of
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Heil, Erin & Nichols, Andrea. (2014). Hot spot trafficking: a theoretical discussion of the
potential problems associated with targeted policing and they eradication of sex trafficking in the
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Orme, J., & Ross-Sheriff, F. (2015). Sex Trafficking: Policies, Programs, and Services. Social