Domestic Child Sex Trafficking

Domestic child sex trafficking—the commercial sexual exploitation of American children within U.S. borders—has become a concern at both the federal and state levels. An estimated 100,000 children are forced into prostitution each year, and the Department of Justice estimates another 293,000 American youth are at risk of becoming victims.

Child sex trafficking victims—mostly young girls, but also boys—can be found in different areas of the sex industry, including street prostitution and online escort services. Traffickers use violence, coercion and manipulation to recruit the most vulnerable children, including those who are minorities, homeless, have run away or have been abused. Identifying children who are caught in this kind of sexual exploitation, however, remains a challenge for law enforcement agencies and is major barrier to protecting and helping victims.