Shared Hope International

Leading a worldwide effort to eradicate sexual slavery...one life at a time

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Punishing commercially sexually exploited minors creates social and legal contradictions that undermine the fight against juvenile sex trafficking— further harming victims and hindering a needed shift in cultural attitudes. This campaign is committed to developing protective responses and avenues to connect youth to trauma informed services and eliminating the criminalization of juveniles for the crimes committed against them.

JuST Response Webinar Series

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We have children who have been victimized, raped- constantly, night after night, and then they come in contact with law enforcement and they’re arrested . . . that is backwards. -Survivor

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Over One Third of States

can still criminalize children for prostitution.

Our Campaign Goal

to enact non-punitive responses to child sex trafficking victims in every state.

What we do to children in this country is very unfortunate and they pay the price for what has happened to them. The buyers get to go home and live normal lives and continue in their marriages, in their jobs and careers, and are never affected by this. But while they’re home, you have a child sitting in a jail cell. And where’s the justice in that? -Survivor

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THE REPORT | SEEKING JUSTICE

Seeking Justice: Legal approaches to eliminate criminal liability for child sex trafficking victims. Seeking Justice is a comprehensive resource for understanding the various statutory approaches states have taken to eliminate a minor’s criminal liability for prostitution and other offenses related to their victimization. This report also examines the importance of incorporating a trauma-informed service response.

State Law Summaries

State report will automatically download when you choose a state.

Behind everything that is put on the face of a trafficking survivor, what they are really like is human. When you strip everything down, they’re not a bad person, they’re not a perpetrator, they’re not a delinquent. They are not somebody who has chosen this life. They are a child and they have had experiences that no child should ever have. -Survivor

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Understand. Change. Empower.

Images on this page are Copyright 2018 © Richard Ross, www.juvenile-in-justice.com

Research and Resources on Protective Responses

Use the following research and resources from Shared Hope’s Center for Justice & Advocacy to understand the issue of non-criminalization and the need for protective responses for juvenile sex trafficking victims.
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Non-Criminalization State Law Survey
(2018) This survey identifies state-by-state the enactment of non-criminalization laws, providing a snapshot of the nation overall in a chart.
Get Chart
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Protective Response Model
(2016) A protective response model to juvenile sex trafficking encompasses state and federal statutes, system protocol and implementation, access to available service and community resources, and outcome measurements to evaluate effectiveness in identifying, responding to, and preventing further harm.
See Model
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JuST Response Non Criminalization Policy Paper
(2016) Discussing the social and legal importance of ending criminalization of minors for prostitution offenses.
See Paper
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Shifting towards Justice: Non-Criminalization of Child Sex Trafficking Victims
April 5, 2016
Read Post
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Children: Victims Not Criminals
September 10, 2016
Read Post
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Non-Criminalization Fact Sheet
(2016) An overview of the points contained in the Non-Criminalization of Juvenile Sex Trafficking Victims Policy Paper
Get Fact Sheet
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2018 Toolkit PDF
(2018) This comprehensive law analysis provides an annual Report Card on the sufficiency of child sex trafficking laws in each state and recommendations for improvement.
Get Toolkit
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5.3 Issue Brief
(2018) This issue brief provides a more comprehensive explanation of the non-criminalization component of the Protected Innocence Challenge. It highlights state statutes that align with the concept of the issue.
Get Chart
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California Recognizes Kids are Victims, Not Criminals
January 3, 2017
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Shared Hope International
  • The Problem
    • What is Sex Trafficking?
    • FAQs
    • Glossary of Terms
  • What We Do
    • Prevent
      • Training
      • Awareness
    • Restore
      • Programs
      • 3rd Party Service Providers
      • Stories of Hope
      • Partners
    • Bring Justice:Institute for Justice & Advocacy
      • Research
      • Training
      • Advocacy
  • Resources
    • Resources
    • Policy Research and Resources
    • Store
  • Take Action
    • Activism
    • Volunteer
    • Give
    • Advocate
  • Blog&Events
    • News & Events
    • Request a Speaker
    • Host an Event
    • Attend an Event
  • About
    • Our Mission and Values
    • Our Story
    • ANNUAL REPORT 2019
    • Financial Accountability
    • Leadership
    • Join Our Team
    • Press Center
    • Contact Us
  • Donate