Human Trafficking of Minors

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1 Human Trafficking of Minors Laken Albrink, Staff Attorney Office of Child Abuse and Human Trafficking Prevention and Prosecution Office of the Attorney General

2 TWO TYPES RECOGNIZED BY LAW Human Trafficking (KRS ): refers to criminal activity whereby one or more persons are subjected to engaging in: a) Forced labor or services; or b) Commercial sexual activity through the use of force, fraud, or coercion except that if the trafficked person is under the age of eighteen, the commercial sexual activity need not involved force, fraud, or coercion (emphasis added) Crime of Human Trafficking (KRS ): A person is guilty of human trafficking when the person intentionally subjects one or more persons to human trafficking.

3 HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF AN ADULT Commercial sexual activity or Forced labor or services Force, Fraud, or Coercion Crime of human trafficking Commercial sexual activity: exchange of something of value for sex (prostitution, escorting ) Forced labor or services: domestic servitude, debt bondage, traveling sales crews

4 HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF A MINOR Commercial sexual activity or Forced labor or services Force, Fraud, or Coercion Crime of human trafficking Commercial sexual activity: exchange of something of value for sex (prostitution, escorting ) Forced labor or services: domestic servitude, debt bondage, traveling sales crews *THERE IS NEVER A MINOR PROSTITUTE IN KENTUCKY*

5 RIGHTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS Right not to be imprisoned or detained for underlying offenses except under certain circumstances Victims should not be held culpable for crimes that were committed as a direct result of their victimization Minor victims cannot be prosecuted for prostitution or loitering for the purpose of prostitution (Safe Harbor) Minor victims cannot be charged with or found guilty of status offenses restating from the minor s victimization Communications between trafficking victim and trafficking counselor are privileged Every person has a legal obligation to report suspected trafficking of a minor (just like the obligation to report child abuse) CHFS must respond within 4 hours and the relationship requirement for accepting dependency, neglect, and abuse cases is not present for human trafficking reports

6 HOW DO TRAFFICKERS RECRUIT VICTIMS? Selling the culture of pimping and escorting Elaborate promises of a better life, fast money, and future luxuries Offering modeling careers Recruiting with the help of parents, strangers, boyfriends Familial trafficking Using another woman or girl to recruit other girls Posing as a boyfriend and giving warmth, gifts, compliments, and sexual/physical intimacy Online: Backpage.com; skipthegames.com; eroticmugshots.com; kyhookers.com; Source: Polaris Project, Domestic Sex Trafficking Fact Sheet: The Criminal Operations of the American Pimp

7 IDENTIFYING TRAFFICKED MINORS PHYSICAL/VERBAL RED FLAGS: Branding (neck/wrist/chest) Tattoos (name of pimp/boyfriend, nickname, symbols) Refers to employer/boyfriend using slang such as Daddy or talks about being in the life Will not make eye contact Defensive or combative Cannot provide address or what state/county they are in Lying about age Inconsistencies in story ECONOMICAL RED FLAGS: Withholding of ID/only ID is a fake ID of an adult Multiple cell phones Frequent and recent relocation Chronic runaway/homeless youth Homeless but has nice jewelry and/or clothes Excess cash and/or hotel keys Multiple prepaid cards

8 REPORTING IMMEDIATE DANGER? Call 911 but DO NOT attempt to assist the victim or confront the trafficker JUVENILE INVOLVED? Report all information to DCBS by calling KYSAFE1. Indicate human trafficking and request special victim unit response Adult and no immediate danger? Report to the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling

9 Children of Incarcerated Parents Tara Grieshop-Goodwin September 19, 2018

10 A Shared Sentence Report National report with Kentucky data

11 2 nd highest rate in nation

12 A Kentucky story Drug addiction Instability Impact on education Survival Living beyond her years Foster care and kinship care

13 What the Kentucky numbers show

14 What the Kentucky numbers show: gender

15 What the Kentucky numbers show: region

16 What the Kentucky numbers show: region

17 What the Kentucky numbers show

18 Impact on children Housing instability Health impact Mental health issues Educational achievement

19 Impact on families and communities Families rely on government assistance Strain on child welfare system High levels of stress Impacts after a parent s release

20 Stepping Up for Kids in Frankfort Progress with Senate Bill 133 Opportunities for policy change Reserve incarceration for public safety Those awaiting trial who can t afford bail

21 Stepping Up for Kids in Communities Support children and families experiencing parental incarceration Support children of incarcerated parents Support caregivers who shoulder the burden Connect parents returning to employment

22 Get the latest information Connect with us! Social facebook.com/kentuckyyouthadvcocates #kyga19 and #BlueprintKY Blueprint for Kentucky s Children