Shared Hope International Research Reveals Strongest and Weakest States in the Nation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C., A new study released by Shared Hope International finds a growing divide between states that aggressively address child sex trafficking through state laws and those with inadequate protections.
The Protected Innocence Challenge, a report on the state of child sex trafficking laws in the U.S., found that five years of sweeping legislative advancements allowed 47 states to raise their grade since 2011. In 2015, a record-setting 933 bills related to domestic minor sex trafficking were introduced in 50 states and D.C., resulting in the improvement of 14 state grades. Louisiana ranked top in the nation for the second year in a row, earning a 99.5 per cent. Michigan claims most improved state in 2015. View the state grades.
As states like Texas, Tennessee, Washington, Louisiana, Montana and Minnesota crack down on trafficking, earning top scores, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire and South Dakota tie for last place – making these states more vulnerable to attracting this illicit business.
Shifting dynamics have states scrambling to tighten laws. North Dakota and Montana, states highly affected by the booming oil industry, significantly strengthened state laws over the past year to respond to the surge of transient workers flooding the area, increasing demand for commercial sex. In contrast, California faces the impending wave of visitors for Super Bowl 2016 and has not improved its laws to handle an increase in trafficking crimes, especially demand.
“In 2011, over half the nation earned a failing grade for its state laws addressing child sex trafficking,” Shared Hope International President Linda Smith said. “Five years later, we’ve made significant strides forward. Not a single state has a failing grade. Increased awareness, coupled with legislative will, is the reason.”
Shared Hope International is an international anti-trafficking organization focusing on prevention, restoration and justice for victims of sex trafficking. Access media resources.
Taryn Offenbacher
Shared Hope International
602-818-3955
Taryn@sharedhope.org
As a federal prosecutor serving as the Special Litigation Counsel with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Richmond has investigated and prosecuted numerous victim-centered labor and sex trafficking cases throughout the United States. He frequently serves as an expert on human trafficking for the United Nation’s Working Group on Trafficking in Persons and at the European Union’s multilateral meetings on human trafficking. He has trained judges, prosecutors, federal agents, law enforcement officers, non-governmental organizations, and international delegations on human trafficking investigative and prosecutorial strategies. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, John worked on human trafficking crimes as the Director of the International Justice Mission’s slavery work in India.
Sandi Pierce, Founder and President of Othayonih Research, is a leader in exposing, addressing, and preventing domestic sex trafficking of American Indian, Alaska Native, and other girls of color. Her report, Shattered Hearts: The commercial sexual exploitation of American Indian women and girls in Minnesota was the first research published in the United States on the impact of this issue on Native communities. As a nationally recognized doctor of applied sociology, she contributes new research on emerging issues including the commercial sexual exploitation of Native women and girls (Shattered Hearts; New Language: Old Problem) and trafficking markets (Mapping the Market). Dr. Pierce draws on her experience as a survivor of sex trafficking to elevate the voice of survivor leaders in the national discussion on sex trafficking. She is of Onondowagah (Seneca) descent.
Sheriff Tom Dart launched revolutionary efforts to tackle the child sex trafficking industry through a campaign of advocacy and education illustrating the use of the online classified giant, Backpage.com, to promote this industry. In July 2015, Sheriff Dart asked credit card companies, Visa and MasterCard, to join him in his fight against child sex trafficking by removing their cards as payment options on Backpage.com. Within days, both credit cards were no longer available for use on Backpage.com. Though efforts to pressure Backpage.com to shut down the adult entertainment section have continued for years, Sheriff Dart’s fresh approach of educating the credit card companies and their resulting withdrawal impacted the child sex trafficking market and Backpage.com’s bottom line – stirring them to respond.
