Before I start posting highlights from my own research, I wanted to provide some background from other studies that are relevant to this work. Across the country, states have enacted laws related to the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) with the intent of stopping child trafficking victims from being criminalized for their behavior in the juvenile or criminal justice system. Recognizing that many youth victims of trafficking may not have stable housing or family support, child welfare agencies have been an obvious alternative choice to take responsibility for the CSEC population. However, there are numerous studies showing that a large proportion of CSEC youth have had prior involvement with the child welfare system, or are currently in foster care when they are trafficked. In 2014, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimated that of all CSEC victims who ran away from home, 68% were under supervision of social services or in foster care when they ran away. Studies from New York and Los Angeles have shown the majority of youth involved in the CSEC population were either previously or currently in foster care placement.
Youth in the child welfare system may be at risk of CSEC involvement, but what are the policy implications of this? Does this mean that youth who are identified trafficking victims should be placed in child welfare custody, or should we explore alternative custody options for youth who would be more at risk of CSEC involvement if they were in child welfare custody? This will be one of primary research questions this summer as I begin my research.
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