Effects of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and It's Reauthorizations on Prostitution Arrests in the United States.

• In Event: Anti-Trafficking Policy and Response

Abstract

In the 16 years since the institution of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) in 2000 there has been a change in the perception of low level prostitutes, by law makers, law enforcement, and the public. Shifting the status of these prostitutes, from that of offender to victim. More recently, with the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2008 the definition of trafficking was expanded to include pimping and pandering enabling law enforcement to focus on the suppliers, rather than those selling sex. This paper will be examining the role of the TVPA, and its subsequent reauthorizations effects on prostitution arrest in the United States. This will be accomplished through an examination of prostitution arrests, and arrests for related offenses from the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) between the years of 1994 and 2014.

Author

• Amelia L. Davies Robinson, University of Mount Union