Sex trafficking of children by family members has not been well understood or described until a 2022 landmark study of nearly one thousand survivors, explaining the prevalence, characteristics, and challenges across the justice process. This presentation will provide startling facts regarding the most common familial sex traffickers, victim profiles, motives, and venues in this form of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). Challenges in the identification of the reality of children having been sold from their homes will be discussed and the differences in victim services will be outlined. Case examples will be provided and robust discussions regarding the ethics of mental health support will be explored. Recommended actions will be outlined with particular attention to the conflicts in state and federal laws regarding the age of consent versus sexual exploitation victimization.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, participants will be able to discuss the recently documented incidence of familial sex trafficking in the U.S.
Upon completion, participants will be able to review an updated description of categories of sex traffickers with particular attention to familial sex traffickers.
Upon completion, participants will be able to discuss the impact of familial sex traffickers on the role of child protective services.
