Human Trafficking What Schools Need in Order to Recognize it and Respond
Meet Your Presenter Jeneé Littrell San Mateo County Office of Education (650)802-5472 Jlittrell@smcoe.org
Today s Goals Gain a greater understanding Learn about indicators and warning signs Learn what schools can do Know where to go for more information
Why Trafficking? The world s second most profitable criminal enterprise Signs of trafficking increasingly apparent in schools
R I S K
Schools Potential Targets Man charged with sex trafficking high school girls Tennessee, September 2013 http://www.wmctv.com/story/23384223/man-charged-with-sex-trafficking-highschool-girls
Bloods gang member went to Brooklyn schools to recruit underage girls New York City June 2010 http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/blo ods-gang-members-brooklyn-schools-recruit- underage-girls-hookers-prosecutors-article- 1.180295
A 19 year old former cheerleader recruited girls at her high school to join her and the man trafficking her Portland, OR April 2014 http://koin.com/2014/04/11/ex-cheerleaderarraigned-sextrafficking/?relatedposts_hit=1&relatedposts_o rigin=58927&relatedposts_position=2
In Your Community FOX 4 investigates human sex trafficking in Kansas City, MO "There were house parties like the one I was raped in, where men were there and I was expected to service them all night long. And my traffickers always had me home before school the next day." Experts call it grooming, and Janine was a textbook case. April 23, 2015 http://fox4kc.com/2015/04/23/fox-4-investigates-human-sex-trafficking-in-themetro/#ooid=sydwpwddrcrsnf7bacgwhaii80rtchc-
What is Trafficking?
Human Trafficking: The Basics Modern-day slavery Highly profitable global criminal enterprise Supply and demand
Federal Law and Definitions Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (TVPA), as amended Sex Trafficking: The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act Commercial Sex Act: Any sex act on account of which anything of value is given to or received by any person
Federal Law and Definitions Severe Forms of Trafficking Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery *Movement across a geographical boundary is not needed for an activity to be considered trafficking
Trafficking Victims Under Federal Law Minors (17 or younger) involved in a commercial sex act Adults (18 or older) who are forced, defrauded, or coerced into committing commercial sex acts Anyone (regardless of age) who is forced, defrauded, or coerced into various forms of labor or services
The Venues Online Strip clubs Brothels Prostitution Fake massage or nail parlors Truck stops Hotels, motels, homes, etc
Online Traffickers commonly approach girls through social media, such as Facebook and Instagram, start by telling them they are pretty and then follow up with gifts and promises of a better life... January 2015 http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/princewilliam-schools-educate-staff-students-and-parentson-human-trafficking/2015/01/09/493651d4-9755- 11e4-8005-1924ede3e54a_story.html
At Home By day, she would go to school and play with other kids. But when night came, her mother would sell her daughter to as many as three men on a school night. July 2015 http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/ 2015/07/30/bringing-attention-sex-traffickingdelaware/30885929/
In Your Community [He] allegedly preyed on drugaddicted women by having them work as prostitutes, keeping the money they earned, and using violence to control them. August 2015 https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/08/05/r andolph-man-charged-with-human-trafficking-andderiving-support-fromprostitution/xtsye4m7u1lbe4xrjfz6ol/story.html
The Numbers
The Numbers The number of 10- to 17-year olds involved in commercial sexual exploitation in the United States each year likely exceeds 250,000, with 60% of these victims being runaway, thrownaway or homeless youth Congressional testimony Ernie Allen, President National Center for Missing and Exploited Children http://judiciary.house.gov/_files/hearings/ pdf/allen100915.pdf
The Numbers As many as one third of teen runaway or thrownaway youth will become involved in prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home. Congressional testimony Ernie Allen, President National Center for Missing and Exploited Children http://judiciary.house.gov/_files/hearings/ pdf/allen100915.pdf
The Numbers Some caveats Criminal element Definitional issues Methodological issues
Polaris Project 2014 Statistics http://www.polarisproject.org/storage/documents/2014statistics.pdf
Polaris Project 2014 Statistics 24,062 signals to the NHTRC hotline (calls, emails, webforms, texts) Sex 71% Labor 16% Not Both spec d 4% 9%
The Traffickers
Traffickers come from all walks of life and often know the victim
The Traffickers Individual pimps Gangs and criminal networks Brothel and massage parlor owners Intimate partners Family members Fellow students Online predators
Traffickers exploit vulnerability and manipulate
The Polaris Project http://blog.polarisproject.org/wp-content/uploads//2010/10/ht- PowerControl-Wheel.jpg
The Victims
The themes of trauma, abandonment, and disruption, begun in childhood, are central to the narratives of adolescent girls trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation. Girls describe having had a profound sense of being alone without resources. http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/07/ humantrafficking/litrev/
12 to 14 The average age at which girls first become victims of prostitution 11 to 13 The average age at which boys and transgender youth first become victims of prostitution Federal Bureau of Investigations http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcementbulletin/march_2011/human_sex_trafficking
Victim Vulnerabilities Homelessness/running away Economic vulnerability (poverty, lack of education, poor employment opportunities) Age (inexperience, need to belong, self-esteem issues) Prior experiences of abuse *Widely considered to be the most direct contributor to vulnerability to trafficking amongst minors
Victim Vulnerabilities Lack of a support network, including a trustworthy adult History of systems involvement (child welfare, juvenile justice) Disabilities LGBT African American / Hispanic / Native American
The Impacts Physical injuries/health problems Mental and emotional health problems
The Impacts Substance abuse Changed relationships with self and others Unhealthy bond with the perpetrator
Levels of Involvement Party Crews Still in school, beginning of the recruitment Campus and Neighborhood Exploitation Still in school, truancy, decline in academic performance Completely in The Life No longer attending school, runaway, on the track and circuit
Warning Signs Unexplained school absences/irregular school attendance Chronic running away Homelessness An abrupt change in attire, behavior, or relationships The presence of an older boyfriend or girlfriend Travel with an older male who is not a guardian References to frequent travel to other cities The sudden presence of expensive possessions
Warning Signs Unusual attachment to cellphone Lack of control over schedule, money, and/or proof of identification Signs of psychological distress, such as depression, anxiety, paranoia, and/or suicidal ideation Signs of psychological coercion, such as an overly submissive attitude or inability to speak for self Signs of physical trauma, including bruises, cuts, burns, and/or scars
Warning Signs Strange tattoos or other branding marks Substance abuse or addictions Poor health, as evidenced by sexually transmitted diseases, malnutrition, and/or serious dental problems Inappropriate dress A reputation References to sexual situations beyond what is ageappropriate
Victim Needs Individualized care based on the needs of each victim, including: Long-term support Consistency without conditions A feeling of safety (perceived and actual) Medical care Trauma-based therapy Education Healthy social interactions Immigration assistance
Schools
Train School Staff Support school staff in Understanding the dynamics of trafficking Recognizing signs of trafficking involvement Responding in possible incidences of trafficking Train school social workers and psychologists on how to work with trafficking victims
Implement a Protocol Joint effort School administration Law enforcement Mental health agencies Child welfare Victim services providers Other community agencies What to do if
Sample Protocol Grossmont Union High School District, San Diego
Sample Protocol Madison Metropolitan School District, WI
Offer a Prevention Curriculum Students can be a part of the solution See the Additional Resources section of Sex Trafficking of Minors: What Schools Need to Know to Recognize and Respond to the Trafficking of Students for sample curricula Choose developmentally appropriate resources based on the age group of the students
National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) In the case of an immediate emergency, call your local police department or 911. In the absence of an established protocol, educators should contact the NHTRC at 1-888- 373-7888 to seek guidance. School personnel should not attempt to confront a suspected trafficker or rescue a suspected victim.
Additional Resources Human Trafficking in America s Schools http://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/human-traffickingamericas-schools Sex Trafficking of Minors: What Schools Need to Know to Recognize and Respond to the Trafficking of Students http://www.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/trafficking.pdf National Human Trafficking Resource Center http://www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/national-humantrafficking-hotline/the-nhtrc/overview Polaris Project http://polarisproject.org/
Questions?