Police and domestic sex trafficking of youth: what teens tell us that can aid prevention and interdiction

Introduction Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) of youth is a crime that has recently received significant attention in the USA (IOM 2013).1 While the US Department of Justice estimates that the number of children (those under the age of 18) currently involved in prostitution, child pornography, and trafficking may be anywhere between 100,000 and 3 million (Friedman 2005), knowledge of DMST and our public response to the problem is still evolving. There is growing and compelling literature (including reports, journal articles, and films) on domestic sex trafficking of girls in the USA (Albanese 2007; Clawson and Grace 2007; Curtis et al. 2008; Friedman 2005; Gragg et al. 2007; IOM 2013; Lloyd 2005; Priebe and Suhr 2005) and some about DMST of males (Curtis et al. 2008). We have also heard directly from the survivors themselves (GEMS 2008; Lloyd 2011). To date it has been difficult to get national estimates and descriptions of the breadth, scope, and nature of DMST (Curtis et al. 2008; Estes and Weiner 2001; Finkelhor and Ormrod 2004; Friedman 2005). Studies of its incidence and prevalence are underway.