Sex Trafficking in Tennessee

TennesseeHuman Sex Trafficking

and Its Impact onChildren and Youth

2011

TENNESSEE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

&VANDERBILT CENTER FOR

COMMUNITY STUDIES

PARTICIPANTS INVOLVED IN THIS STUDY

371 Law Enforcement Representatives

134 Court Representatives

47 Group Home Representatives

2,412 DCS Representatives

1,497 Guardian Ad Litems Representatives (child attorneys)

A major reason for the growth of this “industry” is simply an economic one. Human trafficking can generate more money, and is less risky for traffickers, than drug trafficking.

Growth in Sex Trafficking

Also, there is a demand from consumers of the sex industry. Unfortunately, even those who know that the people they solicit are victimized, it does not stop their demand.

Total Human Sex TraffickingIn Tennessee

Seventy-eight counties representing 85% of the total counties in the state reported at least one case of human sex trafficking in the last 24 months.

Total Minor Sex TraffickingIn Tennessee

Sixty-eight counties representing 72% of the total counties in the state reported at least one case of minor human sex trafficking. The following four counties that reported more than 100 cases.

a) Shelby, b) Davidson, c) Coffee, and d) Knox.

1-5 6-15 16-25 26-50 51-100 > 100 None

# CASES

Sixty-eight counties representing 72% of the total counties in the state reported at least one case of minor human sex trafficking. The following four counties reported more than 100 cases a) Shelby, b) Davidson, c) Coffee, and d) Knox.

State Map—Minor Trafficking Case Numbers by County

International & Domestic Connection1. Based on cases worked, we are more aware of domestic human sex trafficking because of prostitution arrests.2. We are aware that internationals are being shipped in but there are cultural and language issues impacting our abilities. They basically can remain invisible within their communities and they have been programmed to not trust law enforcement so they don’t reach out to us.3. All numbers we know will be under represented. Juvenile numbers are often being misreported if reported at all.4. Atlanta is the number one trafficking hub for children, and is the entry point for most trafficked victims.

How does this affect us? It puts it five hours away!

Respondents were asked if they felt they were adequately trained to handle cases involving human sex trafficking. Seventy-nine percent of respondents stated they are not adequately trained to handle human sex trafficking.

Respondent Training

Every two minutes a child is

trafficked for the purpose of

sexual exploitation in theUnited States.

—U.S. Department of Justice

The average age of a girl entering

into sex trafficking prostitution is 13

In the United States,

trafficking victim

s spend an

average of

four to five years enslaved

Boys are also prostituted, and

their average age of entry into

prostitution is

even younger than girls

People who traffic juveniles “are the most brilliant child psychologists on the planet. They know these kids are not credible. They get them addicted to something, anything; then even if the child does rat them out, no one will believe them”

Traffickers

Almost 300,000 American children are at risk for

Trafficking into the sex industry.

—United States Department of State

There are girls as young as 5 and 6

years old in the U.S. that are forced to do

sexual acts for economic gain by

their pimp.

Un

ited S

tate

s Departm

en

t of Ju

stice

It’s all about $$$$!

Mortality rate is 200 times greater

80% are threatened and assaulted

More than 2/3Are raped

40% attemptsuicide

Girl

Pimp Client

The Unequal Triangle

Need to Break this Triangle!

Freedom

Possible Ways to Engage

AWARENESS

RESCUE

PREVENTION

INFORMATION

ABATEMENT

RESEARCH

OUTREACH

TRAINING

AFTERCARE

Breakingthe

Triangle

TN Governor Bill Haslam greets End Slavery TN's Lindsey Mallett (intern) and Derri Smith (Director) at signing of anti-slavery legislation.