Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: The Exploitation of Our Most Vulnerable Population

The problem of child sex trafficking is widespread and commonly receives media attention as it pertains to international sex trafficking. However, commercial sexual exploitation of children is one of the most hidden forms of child sexual abuse in the United States today (Clawson and Goldblatt Grace, 2007; Kotrla, 2010, in O’Brien, White, and Rizo, 2017, p. 265). The problem is occurring in our backyard, yet very little is known about the extent of the issue. Until recently, minors involved in sex crimes were treated as criminals rather than victims. The passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 changed that. The purpose of this review of the literature is to identify the issue of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST), including the risk factors, consequences, and needs that arise for the minors such as physical, medical, and psychological support. DMST victims are under-identified. Once identified, the victims and survivors have limited supports to meet their needs. This study provides a review of existing qualitative and quantitative research on the topic of DMST with implications for future research including how the presence or absence of risk factors relate to DMST, establishing screening protocols for multi-disciplinary teams to increase early identification of victims or at-risk minors, and establishing the needs of trafficked minors during captivity and after being rescued. The review of the literature will benefit service providers in the juvenile justice system, social services, the medical field, as well as educators who are the people most often in contact with the young victims described.