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Sex Trafficking in the USA

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Human Trafficking Is a Public Health Issue

Abstract

This chapter focuses on sex trafficking in the USA, beginning by defining and distinguishing between key terms and types of sex trafficking as well as characterizing the populations affected and the consequences they experience in being trafficked. The geographic distribution, flows, and magnitude of this form of twenty-first century slavery are outlined, and important gaps and weaknesses in the available research literature are indicated. Finally, a comprehensive overview of the governmental response to sex trafficking, which has historically been grounded in a criminal justice approach, will be outlined. The growing recognition of the need for collaboration, coordination, capacity building, and crosswalks among departments and service delivery systems is reflected in The Federal Strategic Action Plan and the outflow of that plan. The sex trafficking focus of the US federal and state legislation has shaped the nature of survivor services and immigration remedies. Reporting about human trafficking and resourcing for federal, regional, tribal, and state jurisdictions and authorities for victim services and trafficking prevention remain a challenge. The chapter concludes with provisional recommendations which are built upon the findings outlined and project likely directions for those working on sex trafficking in the USA.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Though currently illegal, human trafficking or slavery of persons has not always been illegal, and has even been historically state sanctioned.

  2. 2.

    This study was conducted prior to the DSM V adoption of “substance use disorder” terminology. The study found that 75 % of the study participants “abused” substances while “virtually all” “used” substances.

  3. 3.

    End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes.

  4. 4.

    VAWA protects partnered victims of all genders and sexual orientations.

  5. 5.

    The Department of Labor recognizes forced labor as similar to trafficking but does not explicitly provide a legal differentiation in the Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2011–1—Addendum, Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division April 2, 2015 Under 8 C.F.R. § 214.14(a).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA

    Clydette L. Powell

  2. Center on Child Protection and Wellbeing, University of Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia

    Cyril Bennouna

  3. CPC Learning Network, New York City, USA

    Cyril Bennouna

Authors
  1. Clydette L. Powell
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  2. Cyril Bennouna
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Correspondence to Clydette L. Powell .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Makini Chisolm-Straker

  2. Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Hanni Stoklosa

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Powell, C.L., Bennouna, C. (2017). Sex Trafficking in the USA. In: Chisolm-Straker, M., Stoklosa, H. (eds) Human Trafficking Is a Public Health Issue. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47824-1_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47824-1_4

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-47824-1

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