Individual Submission Summary
Share...

Direct link:

The Impact of Safe Harbor Laws on Minors Involved in Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Wed, Nov 14, 9:30 to 10:50am, Marriott, M105, Marquis Level

Abstract

At its most basic level the commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors is a form of child abuse. However, unlike other forms of abuse which are primarily dealt with by child welfare agencies, these victims are often funneled into the criminal justice system and treated as criminals. To address this issue, many states have begun to redirect prostituted minors away from formal processing in the justice system and toward youth serving agencies that can provide specialized supportive services via Safe Harbor laws. This study uses a multi-level Poisson regression model in order to analyze change in prostitution-related (e.g., prostitution, disorderly conduct, vagrancy, curfew and loitering, and runaway) crimes and sexual abuse maltreatment cases in states that have implemented Safe Harbor laws and those that have not over an 11-year period (2005-2015). This presentation will report on the findings of these analyses.

Authors