Development of an Index Measuring Community-Level CSEC Risk

• In Event: Innovative Data Collection Efforts on Human Trafficking

Abstract

Objective: The current study explores the process of creating an index to measure vulnerability and risk to CSEC victimization at the neighborhood and community level.
Design: Using a combination of publicly available data (e.g. Census, ACS, Official Crime statistics), survey data (e.g. Boston Neighborhood Social Survey), and official child welfare data, the study tests different models to measure risk of CSEC victimization at the neighborhood and community level in Boston, Massachusetts.
Findings: Analyses are pending. Using prior research on risk and vulnerability to CSEC at the individual level and research about risk to victimization and crime more generally in criminology at the neighborhood level, we develop a series of models to measure vulnerability and risk to CSEC victimization at different spatial levels. Models test how different indicators of victimization risk contribute to the likelihood of youth experiencing commercial sexual exploitation.
Conclusions: Much research has focused on individual factors that contribute to risk and vulnerability to CSEC victimization, attention has been paid to community-level processes that impact risk to CSEC victimization. With our findings, we seek to provide actionable information about risk and vulnerability to more accurately direct prevention efforts and interventions toward particular communities that face greater vulnerability to CSEC victimization.

Authors

• Kayse Maass, Northeastern University

• Amy Farrell, Northeastern University

• Matthew R. Kafafian, Northeastern University

• Stephen B. Abeyta, Northeastern University

• Tiana Yom, Northeastern University

• McKenna Forrest, Northeastern University