GATEWAYS TO HUMAN SEX TRAFFICKING IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State University, Stanislaus In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Social Work By Michelle Morse May 2014
CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL GATEWAYS TO HUMAN SEX TRAFFICKING IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY by Michelle Morse Signed Certification of Approval Page is on file with the University Library Kilolo A. Brodie, MSW, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Social Work Date Dorbea Cary, MSSW, LCSW Lecturer of Social Work Date
2014 Michelle Morse ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to Dr. Kilolo Brodie who selflessly gave her time, insight and hard work in order that the research study was completed thoroughly. I want to thank you for always being in bright spirits, expecting me to succeed in this study and for encouraging me along the way. This thesis is also dedicated to my Aunt Kim Duyst, thank you for paving a path for me to come to CSU Stanislaus and for being there for me when my parents were so far away. I dedicate this thesis to my Mother and Father who always kept an array of opportunity before me growing up and allowed me to dream big and to pursue those dreams. I also dedicate this thesis to my brother David Morse, thank you for preparing a way for me to continue with my higher education and for never giving up, because I always looked up to you and wanted to follow in your footsteps. As well as my sister for life Caroline Luvaha for questioning where I was at in the process of completing this thesis. Thank you for encouraging me along the way and for keeping me grounded in peace when I would start to feel overwhelmed about finishing on time. Thoroughly and foremost I dedicate this thesis to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, without whom I would not have had the grace or strength to endure the hardship of experiencing the stories of the lives of the survivors through the data collection process. He is the light and Savior to so many who have been lost in sex trafficking. Psalm 103: 6 The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Dedication... Abstract... iv vii CHAPTER I. Introduction... 1 Statement of the Problem... 1 Statement of Purpose... 5 Significance of the Study... 6 II. Literature Review... 7 Forms of Sex Trafficking and Trauma... 7 Sex Traffickers and Buyers... 8 Law in Sex Trafficking and Results... 9 Sex Trafficking versus Prostitution... 12 Sex Trafficking through the Internet... 13 The Foster Care System and Juvenile Justice System... 14 Intervention Programs in Sex Trafficking... 15 Why Survivors Return to Sex Trafficking... 17 III. Methodology... 18 Overview... 18 Research Design... 19 Sampling Plan... 19 Instrumentation... 21 Data Collection... 23 Plan for Data Analysis... 24 Protection of Human Subjects... 25 IV. Results... 26 Survivor Interviews... 26 Volunteer Interviews... 29 v
Survivor Case files... 32 V. Findings... 37 Overview of Major findings... 37 Major Findings as they Relate to the Literature... 39 Implications for Social Work Policy and Practice... 41 Limitations... 42 References... 44 Appendices A. Informed Consent... 50 B. Survivor Interview Questions... 51 C. Volunteer Interview Questions... 52 D. Survivor Case File... 53 vi
ABSTRACT The purpose of this research study was to identify gateways to human sex trafficking in the Central Valley of California. The three areas studied were the background of the survivors, the events that took place prior to and during the survivor becoming involved with sex trafficking and the relationship formed between the survivor and volunteer, that was established at an undisclosed organization in the Central Valley. The study is exploratory and qualitative in nature. The researcher used three sources of instrumentation to gather data including, 3 survivor interviews, 15 volunteer interviews and an analysis of 31 survivor case files. All data was analyzed using Neuman s 5-part plan. The study found that gateways to sex trafficking in the Central Valley involve family dynamics of the survivor, specifically parental influence. Two forms of sex trafficking are occurring in the Central Valley, teenagers and young adults who are lured in and children as young as the age of five put into trafficking. Traffickers varied from age 15 to 30 and many were involved with drugs, gangs, and violence, while others were business and family men. More organizations need to be established in the Central Valley where social workers, law enforcement and volunteers all work together to fight against sex trafficking. Due to the association of survivors in the system, social workers in Child Protective Services and law enforcement in the Juvenile Justice System should continue be trained in awareness, prevention, and how to work with survivors of sex trafficking. vii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Statement of the Problem Human trafficking has been identified as the largest human rights violation in the history of mankind and is one of the most significant human rights abuses in contemporary society (Hodge, 2008). Human trafficking is a process of people being abducted or recruited in a country of origin and then transferred through transit regions and exploited in a country of destination (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2008). In the case of internal trafficking, all three stages occur within the border of a country (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2008). Forms of exploitation differ between sexual and labor exploitation (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2008). Sex trafficking, is a form of human trafficking that refers to the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act is under 18 years of age (Office of the Attorney General, 2012). In 2006 an estimated 27 million people were enslaved around the world and 13 million of them were children (Humantrafficking.org). Approximately 80% of those victims were being sexually exploited while the other 20% of trafficking involved labor exploitation (Humantrafficking.org, 2006). Human Trafficking is the world s fastest growing criminal enterprise and, after drug trafficking, human 1
2 trafficking is the world s second most profitable criminal enterprise (Office of the Attorney General, 2013). In the beginning of the 21 st century human trafficking was a 9 billion dollar industry (Humantrafficking.org, 2006) and in 2013 human sex trafficking is now a 32 billion dollar a year global industry (Office of the Attorney General). Reasons Sex Trafficking Exist Sex trafficking exists because of the principle of supply and demand. The trafficking of millions of children for commercial sexual exploitation would not exist if the demand for them were not present (Koltra, 2010). Demand can be understood from the perspective of the trafficker, driven by greed and money, or from that of the consumer who is driven by sexual desires and control (Koltra, 2010). Another explanation why sex trafficking exists is because of a culture of tolerance. Sex trafficking requires some level of tolerance within the community in order to exist (Koltra, 2010). This culture of tolerance, fueled by the glamorization of pimping (women being sold for their bodies), is embodied in multiple venues of daily life, including clothing, songs, television, video games, and other forms of entertainment (Koltra, 2010). Koltra acknowledges that research on the impact of the media and culture on self-image, the role of women, gender equality, and risk behaviors could explain more why sex trafficking exists (2010). The author acknowledges that research examining the effectiveness of programs designed to prevent at-risk youths from becoming sex trafficking victims are needed, beginning with assessment of knowledge and resources needed to avoid victimization (Koltra, 2010).
3 Research done in Nepal on intervention and prevention programs for sex trafficking stated that prevention activities include awareness raising and social mobilization such as rallies, seminars, theatre street performances, community support groups, and peer education (Kaufman &Crawford, 2011). Also Nepal has one of the oldest anti-trafficking campaigns, running the Better Life Program for Adolescents since 1995. Research on programs such as this one will lead to better prevention strategies for sex trafficking worldwide. Sex Trafficking in United States of America A majority of sex trafficking victims in the United States are runaway youth. These youth usually come from at- risk households (Hill and Rodriguez, 2011). Among those most at risk are those who have run away from home, those who are homeless or have a history of abuse, and those in foster care or child protective services (Koltra, 2010). In a qualitative study on vulnerability to human trafficking, results reported that destitution and dysfunctional family relationships were the two life conditions that made an individual extremely vulnerable to human trafficking in India (Nilanajana, 2009). Families headed by women and homeless individuals are also highly vulnerable to trafficking (Nilanjana, 2009). The results also found that lack of awareness about trafficking creates vulnerability to deception but mere knowledge is not the protective factor (Nilanjana, 2009). Sex Trafficking in California The United States of America not only has international victims of sex trafficking but it is occurring domestically as well, with interstate sex trafficking of
4 victims (Hill & Rodriguez, 2011). The average age children are being lured into commercial sexual exploitation is between 11 and 14, although some are as young as five (Koltra, 2010). Since 2003, the FBI has rescued 2,700 children who have been exploited (The FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2013). In Operation Cross Country, a three-day nationwide enforcement action took place in 76 cities and was carried out by the FBI in partnership with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in July of 2013. One hundred and five sexually exploited children were rescued during the sweep, while 150 traffickers were arrested (The FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2013). This is far from the number of children at risk needing intervention. In 2011 an estimated 293,000 American youth were at risk of becoming victims of sex trafficking (Hill & Rodriguez, 2011). California is a top destination state in the United States for victims of sex trafficking (Humantrafficking.org, 2006). Los Angeles is one of top three points of entry into the U.S. for victims of sex trafficking, and Sacramento is among the top 5 cities in the United States experiencing an epidemic of child sex trafficking (Humantrafficking.org, 2006). The Central Valley is in the center of Los Angeles and Sacramento with borders Kern County and San Joaquin County, 19 counties in between covering 400 miles. Due to its central location, the Central Valley is a critical region regarding California s sex trafficking problem. Victims of sex trafficking in the Central Valley are being transported from other states and countries, kidnapped from various locations within the Central Valley, and sold or recruited by
5 family members (Humantrafficking.org, 2006). In the Central Valley, in 2012 and 2013, 42 survivors of sex trafficking have been documented at a sex trafficking organization for women only. Some victims have survived, remaining free from their trafficker, while others have been initiated back into sex trafficking. Statement of Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify and explore gateways of access sex traffickers have to victims in the Central Valley and the influence that a relationship with a volunteer (who has been specifically trained to work with this population and builds a relationship with a survivor working with them to complete goals) had on the life of a survivor. This was an exploratory study in which women who were rescued from sex trafficking in the Central Valley were interviewed, experienced volunteers who have worked the victims towards health, safety, and completing goals were interviewed; and a qualitative review of the files of the victims were assessed. The guiding research questions included: What is the background of the victim? What events took place before the victim entered through a gateway of sex trafficking? And what was the relationship like between survivor and volunteer during the navigation process? The researcher expected victims of sex trafficking in the Central Valley to have similar backgrounds amongst each other, growing up with a lack of support in their families, and having low self-esteem issues. The researcher also expected that the victims were lured into trafficking rather then forced and that, survivors and navigators deem their relationship beneficial.
6 Significance of the Study There is a gateway to sex trafficking in the Central Valley and by exploring the background of victims and looking at similarities and differences between them, these gateways have been identified in the lives of woman and children in order to prevent future sex trafficking. Understanding the gateways that traffickers use to force/lure women and children into sex trafficking in the Central Valley provided useful information that could be used for intervention and prevention strategies for families, social workers, law enforcement, teachers, other professionals and the community. Also by exploring the relationships between volunteers and survivors, and how those relationships influenced the lives of survivors, intervention programs can be influenced. Similarities found between gateways to victims in sex trafficking and traffickers could be used for forming solutions for those at risk.
CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW Forms of Sex Trafficking and Trauma There are two main forms of commercial sexual exploitation. These include being lured into sex trafficking or being forced into sex trafficking. In the journal article Trick or Treat, Mir clearly describes the process of luring a victim into sex trafficking. The author states that traffickers initially approach victims as friends and later become their boyfriends taking advantage of their vulnerable and troubled backgrounds so that these young women submit to their own sexual exploitation (2013). Traffickers use emotional manipulation, physical violence, and sexual humiliation (Mir, 2013). Through dependence, addiction, love, and fear, traffickers ensure that their victims are attached and willing to participate in the sex industry (Mir, 2013). Other victims are forced into sex trafficking by their family members or someone they are familiar with or they are kidnapped and forced into sexual exploitation by a person who is unfamiliar to them (Rafferty, 2013). Sex trafficking causes severe damage to its victims, both physically and emotionally (Mir, 2013). Victims suffer physical injuries from their traffickers as well as from the men who purchase them (Mir, 2013). They are exposed to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV and develop various psychological problems, such as depression, dissociation, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (Mir, 2013). 7
8 Sex Traffickers and Buyers A range of individuals and groups contribute to the trafficking of women and children, including business owners, community members (high school and college students), members of organized crime networks, sex tour operators, brothel owners, and corrupt officials in law enforcement, immigration, and the judicial system who have been lax in enforcing laws because of their own profiting from the illegal sex trade (Rafferty, 2013). Some families sell their children out of desperation to pay for food, health care or other things of value; others mistakenly place their trust in the smooth-talking agents who paint a rosy picture of their children's bright prospects elsewhere (Rafferty, 2013). Both men and women can be traffickers (Rafferty, 2013). Women traffickers can include former victims who have returned to their traffickers and act as suppliers of children to those who will exploit them (Rafferty, 2013). Woman traffickers, tend to be attractive, nicely dressed, and to wear expensive jewelry, and are generally hired by networks of traffickers to use their familiarity with victims to gain their trust (Rafferty, 2013). The profile of traffickers also varies depending on the purpose and process of the traffickers (Rafferty, 2013). Organized networks, for example, tend to be more skilled at dealing with the legal impediments associated with cross-border trafficking (Rafferty, 2013). A study found that sex traffickers were more likely to possess psychopathic tendencies than other types of offenders (Reid, 2012). However, further investigations into the common characteristics or psychological profiles of sex traffickers are
9 needed (Reid 2012). Such studies could provide useful information on the tactics and strategies that facilitate sex traffickers exploitation of minors in child sex trafficking (Reid, 2012). Studies have found that only a small percentage of customers in human sex trafficking are considered to be pedophiles (Andrews, 2004; Barnitz, 2001). Studies have also identified the typical customer as being male, about 30 years old, married, and employed full time with no previous criminal record, although buyers come from all age groups and occupational backgrounds (Andrews, 2004; Barnitz, 2001). Major reasons cited for purchasing sex included sexual needs, cheap and easily available sexual services, a form of male bonding and male socializing, the nature of social relationships, and the role of peer pressure in pressuring men to prove their masculinity by visiting brothels (Chan, 2010). Law in Sex Trafficking and Results In 2000, Congress first passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which specifies that all U.S. minors (youth under 18 years of age) involved in commercial sex acts including prostitution and pornography are regarded as victims of trafficking (Reid, 2012). The Act defines commercial sexual activity as any sex act on account of which anything of value is given to or received by any person (Reid, 2012). The commitment of the federal government to combat the child sex trafficking of U.S. citizens was further evidenced by the formation of the Innocence Lost National Initiative (ILNI) and Internet Crimes against Children Task Force Program (ICAC) (Reid, 2012). The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) coordinates the ILNI,
10 working jointly with National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the U.S. Department of Justice s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) (Reid, 2012). From 2003 2010, ILNI cases related to child sex trafficking resulted in 625 convictions, many with lengthy sentences including multiple 25-years-to-life sentences (Reid, 2012). In addition, during the same time period ILNI recovered over 1,200 sexually exploited minors, rescued as a result of prostitution stings in various cities across the United States (Reid, 2012). The focus of the study on the Trafficking Victims Protection Act was Governmental efforts to combat sex trafficking. The three key objectives of the study were: the prevention of trafficking, the prosecution of traffickers, and the protection of victims (2012). The study found that 400 minors had been arrested and adjudicated for prostitution in Massachusetts since the passing of the Act in 2000 until 2007 (Reid, 2012). In this metropolitan area, from 2000 to 2007, fewer than ten cases of domestic minor sex trafficking involving prostitution were investigated by those interviewed during this study (Reid, 2012). Only one of those cases resulted in the successful prosecution of the trafficker (Reid, 2012). No arrests or prosecutions of those facilitating domestic minor sex trafficking were reported. Although law enforcement agreed that all cases of sex trafficking of U.S. minors, including those involving prostitution, should be treated as a high priority, they reported significant obstacles to collecting evidence and prosecuting sex traffickers of U.S. minors (Reid, 2012). Results also found that victims of child sex trafficking do not necessarily view themselves as victims, nor do they view their trafficker as an exploiter (Reid, 2012).
11 Confused about their culpability and responsibility for the crime being committed against them, it was reported that these minors often minimize or deny their sexual victimization (Reid, 2012). All study participants, from law enforcement professionals to victim advocates, agreed that the primary barrier to prosecuting child sex traffickers is the precarious psychological state of the victims. Unfortunately, based on the findings of this assessment minors exploited in prostitution are more likely to be arrested and charged with prostitution with no charges being filed against their traffickers (Reid, 2012). The Trafficking Victims Protection Act has also infiltrated local government in seven states including California. They have passed Safe Harbor legislation, which also identifies minors as victims of commercial sexual exploitation (Mir, 2013). Safe Harbor laws are victim-centered, in that they decriminalize prostitution for sex trafficking victims and provide them with specialized services such as crisis intervention, safe placement, and other assistance that meets their needs (Mir, 2013). The overarching motivation behind passing Safe Harbor statutes is that the majority of minors engaged in prostitution are victims of sex trafficking, and deserve legal protection (Mir, 2013). No longer are victims being mistaken for criminals but law enforcement is now targeting demand, (buyers of sex trafficked victims) and prosecuting traffickers (Mir, 2013). The local government in California has also intervened in sex trafficking by passing law through proposition 35 the Californians against Sexual Exploitation Act. Proposition 35 was approved on the November 6 th, 2012 ballot in California as
12 an initiated state statute. Proposition 35 increases prison terms for human traffickers, requires convicted sex traffickers to register as sex offenders, requires all registered sex offenders to disclose their internet accounts, increases criminal fines to pay for victim s services, and mandates law enforcement training on human trafficking (California Proposition 35, Ban on Human Trafficking and Sex Slavery, 2012). Sex Trafficking versus Prostitution The definition of prostitution is the act of sex in exchange for money, and according to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, those who engage in this act must be willing and over the age of 18 (Marcus, Riggs, Horning, & Rivera et. al, 2012). Anyone who is under the age of 18 or who is forced into sexual activity for something of value is being sex trafficked (Office of the Attorney General, 2012). As research has been conducted on this topic there have been arguments on the nature of sex trafficking and whether or not children who are willing to be sexually exploited should be labeled as sex trafficking victims. A study was conducted in New York City and Atlantic City on 400 minors and their perspective on their involvement in prostitution. When this study was conducted prostitution was legal in Nevada for those over the age of 14 so there were conflicting local and federal laws (Marcus, Riggs, Horning, & Rivera et. al, 2012), which was one factor contributing to the interest of this studying being conducted. The study found that relationships between market-involved adolescents and those who benefit from their sexual labor, are far more diverse and complex than the current policy enacted under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act s logic indicates (Marcus, Riggs, Horning, &
13 Rivera et. al, 2012). The study found that perhaps the least important factor in determining whether a person is being forced into sex trafficking or prostituting themselves out is their age itself (Marcus, Riggs, Horning, & Rivera et. al, 2012). The majority of the 400 adolescent participants of the study were not exchanging sex for money because they were being forced into trafficking but because they had drug habits, were attempting to survive on the streets on their own, were escaping from difficult family situations or because they existed at the lowest stratum of socioeconomic systems (Marcus, Riggs, Horning, & Rivera et. al, 2012). This study confirms Mir s research which attempts to explain the reality of a minor involved in sex trafficking, explaining that many minors have psychological issues and do not identify with being forced into trafficking due to strong emotional ties to their traffickers and manipulation they have used to lure these victims in (2013). Sex Trafficking through the Internet Internet is becoming more and more popular in use as a form of sex trafficking. Analyses of juvenile online victimization identify advertising and selling of victims as one of the various ways that the Internet is used to facilitate the commission of sex crimes against minors and law enforcement officers acknowledge the use of the Internet in cases classified as juvenile prostitution (Wells, Mitchell, & Ji, 2012). Instead of putting victims of trafficking on the street, traffickers can now sell them through the Internet providing a price and location to the buyers. In a study conducted with participants from 2,598 law enforcement agencies who had worked with juvenile delinquents who were victims of sex trafficking, the researcher found
14 that 27% of victims from 132 cases had been trafficked through the Internet (Wells, Mitchell, & Ji, 2012). The researcher also found that it is easier for third- party exploiters to involve minors in prostitution through the Internet and that Internetinvolved sex trafficking was less likely to be intervened in by police then other cases (Wells, Mitchell, & Ji, 2012). It was also reported that particularly in child pornography production cases, law enforcement experience unique challenges related to digital evidence collection and victim identification (Wells, Mitchell, & Ji, 2012). The Foster Care System and Juvenile Justice System Mir (2013) states that studies indicate there are several factors present in most instances of commercial sexual exploitation of minors. Usually these victims have personal and family histories of substance abuse and physical or sexual violence. Unstable and abusive home lives prompt some victims to run away, while others leave from group homes, foster homes, or juvenile institutions. Because many children in the foster care system have a tendency to run away they are rendered homeless and as a result are extremely susceptible to commercial sexual exploitation. Personality and psychological issues, as well as emotional and school problems, contribute to a victim's vulnerability to exploitation as well. For such reasons, traffickers purposely target these young women (Mir, 2013). Many sexually exploited minors are dependents of the child welfare system, in the juvenile justice system or under dual jurisdiction of both systems (Mir, 2013). The child welfare system is aimed towards the protection and guidance of minors, they are considered a victim and not a threat to society (Phillips, 2009). The juvenile justice
15 system has the responsibility to rehabilitate the minor and protect the society from criminal activity (Phillips, 2009). There is a fine line between victim and criminal when a child is involved with sex trafficking and part of both the dependent system and the juvenile system. Through AB 129, legislation has authorized the child welfare system and juvenile justice system to declare a foster child as a dual status (Phillips, 2009). This allows both systems to collaborate to serve the best interest of foster children and minors who are being sexually exploited by providing them resources and services to meet their unique needs instead of treating them like criminals (Phillips, 2009). Dual jurisdiction keeps sexually exploited minors out of the criminal system so that they can receive services to avoid further exploitation (Phillips, 2009). Intervention Programs in Sex Trafficking As a result of the harms endured by sex trafficking victims, they are in need of specialized social services (Mir, 2013). The most critical need is immediate shelter and short-term housing for victims (Mir, 2013). Because of the control traffickers have over their victims, and the lack of family relationships they have, victims are at a heightened risk of returning to their abusers, so emergency shelter should be the first form of intervention (Mir, 2013). As well as shelter, victims need medical and psychological treatment for what they have endured (Mir, 2013). Intervention programs for sex trafficking victims are unique and different from other intervention programs due to the situations that these victims are coming out of, in which most other victims do not experience. A study was conducted with 34 participants, where a series of in-person, one-on-one interviews took place during
16 the data collection process. Each client had participated in comprehensive services for human trafficking survivors in three cities in the United States. Outcomes of the study were conceptualized in terms of services received, safety, physical and mental health, and day-to-day functioning and ability to lead self-sufficient lives (Aron, Zweig, & Newmark, 2006). On the whole, clients outcomes were generally more positive when their service needs were met and when the client s experience of the service relationships were positive and strong relationships were formed. Some outcomes were influenced by factors beyond the social service providers or the clients control. Most of the trafficking survivors that were interviewed had very positive feedback on their experiences with the comprehensive services site, and their positive experiences enhanced their outcomes. Most clients reported getting their most basic needs met for food, clothing, and shelter. Clients generally reported that initial contact with service providers was helpful and that key services were available and accessible. Some victims had nothing but positive things to say about the services they had received, noting that all their needs had been met and they had been met with respect and sensitivity to their culture and emotional trauma. Some clients felt respected and honored by the service providers, which boosted their self-worth enormously. One even remarked that staff had treated her better than her family members had. The intervention that a victim receives when coming out of sex trafficking will influence the decisions that they make in the long run as well as their health physically, psychologically and emotionally (Aron, Zweig, & Newmark, 2006).
17 Why Survivors Return to Sex Trafficking The perspective on sex trafficking is controversial in many rings of society because of the underlying factors in each individual case. These underlying factors include different forms of sex trafficking; families trafficking victims, boyfriends trafficking victims, trafficking of kidnapped victims and cases where victims are willing to live this lifestyle and return back to their traffickers. Often relationships between victims and traffickers mimic those of battered women and their partners, in that victimized girls are often reluctant to leave their traffickers or report them to law enforcement due to coercion or emotional attachments (Mir, 2013). These emotional ties as well as fear of lack and fear of the trafficker are what most likely results in the victim returning back to her trafficker (Mir, 2013). By insulating them from the outside world and through their dominance and control, traffickers make certain that victimized girls believe they have no other choice in life but prostitution (Mir, 2013). Continual research is needed in order to investigate why victims of trafficking return back to their traffickers, but it is important to note that each individual case of trafficking is different and the background of each victim being trafficked differs as well, influencing their decisions in the role of voluntary participation in sex trafficking.
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY Overview of the Study The purpose of this study was to identify and explore gateways of access sex traffickers have to victims in the Central Valley and to explore the effects that intervention through safe, goal-oriented relationships has on the life of a survivor. Because sex trafficking in the Central Valley is a fairly new and understudied topic, the research that was conducted was exploratory in nature (Rubin & Babbie, 2011). This study involved partnership with a sex trafficking organization in the Central Valley that works with female survivors of sex trafficking by assigning them to a volunteer that has committed to build relationship with them. While building a relationship with survivors, the volunteers also help the women meet their basic needs and future goals. Interviews were conducted with sex trafficking survivors and volunteers. The women s case files were assessed through qualitative analysis. Interview questions and topics researched were: the survivor s family background, culture, their situation before becoming victims, the process that took place as they were being accessed through a gateway into sex trafficking, the relationship between volunteer and survivor after being rescued, as well as questions regarding information about their trafficker. The researcher expected that victims of sex trafficking in the Central Valley would have similar backgrounds amongst each other, with a lack of support in their families, and low self-esteem. The researcher also expected that 18
19 victims and sex traffickers would have similar family backgrounds and life circumstances, in that victims were lured into trafficking (rather than forced), and that intervention through building safe relationships with the survivors would positively influence the survivor s life. Research Design The design of this study was qualitative because this study attempted to tap into deeper issues of sex trafficking in the Central Valley rather than trying to quantify the information gathered (Rubin & Babbie, 2011). In the interviews with survivors and volunteers, open-ended questions were used with interview schedules. An interview guide approach was used in this study, in which the topics and issues being covered were similar with each survivor and volunteer being interviewed, but the sequence and wording of the questions were adapted to each particular interview (Rubin & Babbie, 2011). Due to the sensitivity of the topic discussed in these interviews, it was important to leave room for probing into unanticipated circumstances and responses. A thorough analysis of the case files took place in which the researcher looked for similar information as in the interviews; information was retrieved from 31 survivor case files. Sampling Plan Qualitative Interview with Survivors A non- probability availability method was used in this study, selected on the basis of knowledge and availability of the population (Rubin & Babbie, 2011). The reason for choosing this sampling method was because access to victims rescued from
20 sex trafficking in the Central Valley was low. A sex trafficking organization in the Central Valley that serves women only is the source from which the sample was drawn. In total, the organization had completed 31 case files since 2012 and they are currently in contact with a small number of those victims. The participants of this study were 3 survivors of sex trafficking. The criteria for participating in this study were that the participants were all above the age of 18 and were no longer involved with sex trafficking. The sample of participants had two things in common: they have all been victims of sex trafficking and have all spent a certain amount of time as survivors no longer involved in sex trafficking. This study was conducted in alliance with the director of the sex trafficking organization in the Central Valley who provided the researcher with contact information for each survivor. Once contact information was given to the researcher, the participants were contacted by phone and an interview was set up between the researcher and survivor. Interviews took place in a private room on the premises of the sex trafficking organization or over the phone. In order to increase reliability of the research design, and due to the sensitivity of the study, all interviews were done with just the researcher and participant in the room in which the conversation was being held. Qualitative Interview with Volunteers A non-probability purposive sampling method was used as volunteers provided quality of information based on their established relationships with survivors of sex trafficking. The director of the organization identified a list of volunteers for the researcher to contact. The organization had 22 volunteers; the
21 target amount for the sample consisted of 15 volunteers. Due to the confidential nature of the subject matter, only the researcher and participant were in the room during the interview. Qualitative Selection of Survivor Case Files A non-probability availability method was appropriate for this section of the study based on the fact that there were only 31 files in total. A thorough analysis of the case files took place in which the researcher analyzed the background of the survivor, the gateway of access the survivor entered into sex trafficking through, and the relationship that took place between the survivor and volunteer. The review of these files took place in the office of the sex trafficking organization where the files were stored and the files were not be taken out of the office. Instrumentation The researcher created the research questions for the interviews and the categories of analysis for the survivor files. This was the first usage of the interview questions and structured assessment of the collective case files, therefore no previous reliability or validity had been established. The interview questions and review of case files were appropriate for this study s design as they directly addressed the purpose of the study (determining gateways of access traffickers have to victims in the Central Valley). The questions had been approved by the director of the sex trafficking organization in the Central Valley who has worked with many survivors of sex trafficking, has a background in research, and frequently presents on the topic.
22 The categories for reviewing survivor case files were created based on the forms within the files, which include a crises call form, survivor assessment packet, personal goals form, and contact notes from each meeting between volunteer and survivor. The questions for the interviews and the categories for the file assessment related to the background of the survivor (types of environments and family relations that the victim grew up in), situations that occurred leading up to the victim entering into sex trafficking, the background of the victims trafficker, and the relationship between volunteer and survivor. All three qualitative methods of data collection (interviewing survivors of sex trafficking, interviewing volunteers, and assessing case files) addressed the purpose of this study, which is to gain insight into the participants backgrounds, understanding gateways of access, and documenting the relationship between volunteers and survivors. The interview questions for the survivors and volunteers were essentially the same, (See Appendix B & C), with the exception of the 13 th question on the volunteer interview which discussed trauma and is not used on the survivor interview due to the sensitivity of the question. Due to this exception 14 questions were asked during the survivor interviews and 15 questions were asked during the volunteer interviews. The categories for the survivor file assessments (See Appendix D) were similar to the interview questions (See Appendix B & C).
23 Data Collection Qualitative Interviews with Survivors and Volunteers The researcher was the sole individual collecting data for this study. Interviews were scheduled within a three-week timeframe and were located in a private location on the premises of the sex trafficking organization. Each participant was allotted 45 minutes to answer the interview questions. The researcher recorded the interview with an audio recording device. The interview was then transcribed onto a MacBook Pro and the document was accessed using a password. Data collected was analyzed and then deleted upon completion of the study. No other person was present while the data was being analyzed and the data was kept securely protected to maintain confidentiality. Qualitative Review of Survivor Files Data collection of survivor files took place within a three- week timeframe and was located in the office where the files were kept at the sex trafficking organization. The researcher coded information into the selected categories for the study (background, gateway of access and relationship between volunteer and survivor) typing the data into a MacBook Pro. The files were locked on the MacBook Pro, only to be accessed by a password. After the study was completed, all data was deleted.
24 Plan for Data Analysis Qualitative Analysis of Interviews with Survivors and Volunteers The researcher used Neuman s 5 -part plan in order to manually code the data from the qualitative interviews, discovering patterns among the data in order to make conclusions about the results. The researcher started by sorting and classifying the information from the interviews; this entailed organizing the responses by each question posed. The next step was to code the information by labeling the data to condense it into categories. The interviews and case files study had categories, and depending on the similarities, data was linked together. If necessary, sub-categories were added as well. The researcher then used selective coding to make comparisons and contrasts among the thematic categories. The data was then be interpreted and explained in summative form. Qualitative Analysis of Survivor Files The data from the survivor file analysis was linked to the three categories (background information, gateways of access, and the relationship between survivor and navigator) found in the interview guide. Neuman s 5-part plan was used to analyze each category of the survivor files. Sorting, coding, categorizing, selective coding, and interpretation of the data were used in the same way explained for the interview analyses.
25 Protection of Human Subjects Qualitative Interviews with Survivors and Volunteers Before the researcher began the interview, participants were informed the purpose of the study. They were allotted time to ask any questions or concerns about the study before the researcher began the interviews, which were recorded. The researcher also stated that the interview was voluntary and that their participation had no bearing on their services received by the organization. It is not anticipated that any harm should came to participants as a result of participation in this study. Participants signed an informed consent form that stated that data collected was confidential, except of an instance requiring mandated reporting which included if the participant was going to harm themselves or knew of someone else being harmed. All information was reported in aggregate form (data from survivors of sex trafficking in the Central Valley) with no personally identifying information revealed. Qualitative Analysis of Survivor Files Confidentiality was maintained with the files under study, in which names, particular demographics, and details of characteristics that could contribute to the identity of victims was not included in the final written product. The director of the sex trafficking organization signed a memorandum of understanding relating to this subject matter.
CHAPTER IV RESULTS The purpose of this study was to identify and explore (1) gateways of access sex traffickers have to victims in the Central Valley and (2) the influence that a relationship with a volunteer (who has been specifically trained to work with this population to complete goals) has on the life of a survivor. The guiding research questions include: What is the background of the victim? What events took place before the victim entered through a gateway of sex trafficking? And what was the relationship like between survivor and volunteer during the navigation process? This chapter discusses individual themes among the survivor interviews, volunteer interviews, and survivor case files. Of the three qualitative methods that took place, Chapter IV addresses three sections: the background, gateway of access, and relationship between volunteer and survivor. First, the overview of the sample will be described and then the data will be presented in sequential order as listed above. Survivor Interviews Background of the Survivor The sample consisted of three female participants, two of whom were Caucasian and one who was African American. All respondents were between the ages of 18 and 40 and were residents of California that grew up in the Central Valley. Participants being interviewed were no longer involved in sex trafficking and had all 26
27 been out of trafficking between 5 and 20 years. All three of the survivors were the oldest girls in their family and all three survivors were abused by their parents physically, emotionally, and verbally, before being involved in trafficking. Two of the survivors mothers were prostitutes and two of the survivors were sexually molested by their own parent, starting as early as the age of 3. All three survivors still talk to their family members and have a good relationship with most of them but two of the survivors have not talked to the parent who got them involved with trafficking for 5-10 years. One or both parents raised all three survivors. One survivor was placed into foster care in her pre-teens and two of the survivors had a sister who was also involved with trafficking. It is evident that parental influence was a factor in how the survivors became involved with trafficking. Gateway of Access into Sex Trafficking Two of the survivors became involved with trafficking by a parent starting around the age of 5 and one survivor became involved with trafficking by her best friend s uncle as a teenager. Two of the survivors were involved with trafficking from the ages of 5-14. When they stopped being involved with trafficking at the age of 14, they had no memory that the trafficking had occurred until in their later adult years as a result of the trauma that had taken place during the trafficking. Two of the survivors were around other children who were being abused and put into trafficking by the same people that were abusing and trafficking them. One of the survivors mentioned being in a boarding house where she was prostituted out with other 6 yearold girls. Two of the survivors had families that were connected to Satanism as well
28 as Free Masonry and saw sexual rituals done to other children. The study showed that children who are involved with trafficking often associate with other children who are involved with trafficking within the same time frame. Child Protective Services was called on behalf of two of the survivors, and the one who was involved with sex trafficking as a child was never rescued out of the situation. Two of the traffickers who were involved with trafficking the survivors experienced abuse when they were growing up and one of the traffickers was a runaway. Two of the survivors had families that seemed normal (i.e., involved in the community, politics, and in relations with city officials). One of the survivors had a family that was on drugs and living in the streets. All three of the survivors were intimidated and beaten as a form of control so that they would do whatever their traffickers told them to do. Many similarities can be seen amongst families whose children are involved with trafficking. Relationship between Survivor and Volunteer Two of the survivors received counseling and advice from volunteers while all three survivors received encouragement and a sense of hope from the volunteers. Intimidation, fear and unfortunate life circumstances or situations in which the survivor had little control over, played a role in the termination of the relationships between the survivors and volunteers, all three survivors are no longer involved in a relationship with volunteers. Relationships between survivor and volunteer seemed to have a positive influence on the lives of the survivors.
29 Volunteer Interviews Sample Overview The sample consisted of 15 interviews from participants whom were all female and were 18 years of age or older. Each participant met with survivors of sex trafficking and invested time into the life of each survivor. Some volunteers only had a caseload of 1 survivor while others had experience working with up to 5 survivors. Background of the Survivor According to the volunteers with whom the 15 interviews took place, ten of the survivors had an absent father, seven of the survivors were in the foster care system (Child Protective Services), four survivors lived with or had strong relationships with their grandparents, two survivors had both parents raise them and were living in the same home, thirteen survivors experienced abuse before becoming involved with trafficking, and three survivors were sexually abused before becoming involved with trafficking. One survivor was sexually abused while in foster care, and two survivors were abused by their biological family members. Six of the volunteers did not know if the survivor they were working with was sexually abused and others stated not to their knowledge or she didn t state that. It is evident that parental influence and experiencing abuse are factors that influence a survivor became involved with trafficking.