1. Human Trafficking
Overview
Sex Trafficking in the U.S.
Fake Massage Businesses
Internet Based
Residential Brothels
Street Prostitution
Hostess & Strip Clubs
Escort Services
Truck Stops
Labor Trafficking in the U.S.
Recognizing the Signs
International Trafficking
Trafficking FAQs
State-by-State Resources
Calendar of Events
The NHTRC Human Trafficking Report a Tip Access Training Resources Map Get Involved Contact
Victims of forced street prostitution are
particularly vulnerable to arrest for indecent
exposure or prostitution from their visibility on
the streets.
Victims are expected to earn a nightly quota,
ranging from $500 to $1000 or more, all
confiscated by the pimp.
“Throughout the U.S., girls are being bought and sold by adults to adults. Girls
are sold on the streets, in strip-clubs, brothels, truck-stops and with increasing
frequency on internet sites like Craigslist and Backpage.”
– Rachel Lloyd, Founder and Executive Director, GEMS.
Humantraffickingvictims are oftenfoundinstreet prostitution
where they are forcedto provide commercial sexual services by a
controller or “pimp.” Pimps force adults andminors to sell
commercial sex onthe streets by means of physical abuse, threats,
lies, manipulation, andfalse promises. Victims are oftenexpectedto
earnanightly quota, rangingfrom$500 to $1000 or more, all
confiscatedby the pimp. Victims are typically U.S. citizens,
includingadults, girls, boys, andtransgender youth. Althoughless
common, immigrants may also be victimized.
Aservice providerbeganworkingwith a16-year-oldgirl who had
recently beenremovedfromasituationof pimp-controlledsex
trafficking. The girl hadbeenwith the same pimpsince she was 14
years old. The pimpcontrolledseveral underage girls, andhe forced
themto prostitute onatwo blockarea. The pimpusedcell phones to
monitorthe girls, andwatchedthemfromacarwhile they solicited
johns. A19-year-oldyoungwoman, who hadbeenrecruitedby the
pimpwhenshe was 15, assistedthe pimpwith monitoringand
recruitingthe younggirls. Previously the 16-year-oldhadbeen
arrestedforsolicitation, but herpimpalways paidherbail andshe
wouldreturnto him. Recently, she hadagainbeenarrested, but this
time she disclosedinformationabout the pimp, andwas referredto
ashelterfacility forservices.
*Basedoncalls receivedby the National HumanTraffickingResource Center. Identifyingdetails
have beenchangedto protect confidentiality.
When does it become trafficking?
Street prostitutionbecomes traffickingwhenapimpuses force, fraudand/or coercionto maintain
control over the personprovidingcommercial sexual services andcause the personto engage in
commercial sex acts. Anindividual engagedinstreet prostitutionunder the age of 18is considereda
victimof sex traffickingregardless of the presence of force, fraudor coercion. Commonmeans of
control include:
Force–Physical or sexual abuse, ofteninthe formof repeatedrapes by one or more people to create
submission;confinement to the residence;restrictions onmovement andcommunicationto family and
friends.
Fraud–False promises of abetter life throughthe trafficker presentingas aboyfriendor caretaker
figure.
Coercion –Threats of harmto the victimor victim’s family;threats to shame the victimby revealing
the commercial sex to his or her family andothers inthe community;verbal, psychological and
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2. Top Resources
HumanTrafficking
National HumanTraffickingResource
Center
Sex TraffickingintheU.S.
RecognizingtheSigns
TheVictims
Client Quotes
emotional abuse;nightly quotas;confiscationof birthcertificates andother identificationdocuments;
forceddependency onthe pimpor controller;rumors of or witnessedviolence at hands of traffickers;
cycle of rewards andpunishments;convincingthe victimthat police/service providers will only see the
victimas a"prostitute" andwill arrest andnot assist the victim;threats of deportationif victimis a
foreignnational.
*The above list is not comprehensive orcumulative. One element of force, fraudorcoercionmay be
present, ormany.
Vulnerabilities
Violence and Assault –Victims of street prostitutionare particularly vulnerable to violence and
assault from"johns." Althoughvictims of sex traffickinginstreet prostitutionare commonly
monitoredby acontroller or “pimp”, the controller is oftenless visible andtherefore more difficult for
police to investigate. Typically, individuals victimizedby this network are also trainedto lie to police
andservice providers about the existence of apimp, andthey may present themselves as
independently inprostitution.
Social Stigma–The negative social stigmaattachedto prostitutionis commonly exploitedby
traffickers inorder to prevent victims fromrevealingthe ways inwhichthey are beingabusedand
hurt. Survivors of street prostitutionrecount instances where family or the public treatedthem
differently, limitingtheir ability to findhelpandaccess services inanon-judgmental environment.
Glorification of Pimps-Popculture glamorizes pimps inmusic, movies, andvideo games that are
directly marketedtowards youth. Suchrepresentations hide the violent andabusive nature of
pimping, andoftenfail to describe the ways inwhichpimps engage inbehaviors that meet the very
definitions of humantrafficking.
Statistics Snapshot
Estimatednumber of men, victims must have sex withdaily:1 –15 mendaily
Standardquotaper night:$500 to $1,000 or more per night
Minors as youngas 12 years oldare recruitedinto prostitutioninthse UnitedStates
For more resources onsex trafficking, click here
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