1. Human Trafficking
Overview
Sex Trafficking in the U.S.
Fake Massage Businesses
Internet Based
Residential Brothels
Street Prostitution
Hostess & Strip Clubs
Escort Services
Truck Stops
Labor Trafficking in the U.S.
Recognizing the Signs
International Trafficking
Trafficking FAQs
State-by-State Resources
Calendar of Events
The NHTRC Human Trafficking Report a Tip Access Training Resources Map Get Involved Contact
A victim under the age of 18 is considered a
victim of sex trafficking, regardless of the
presence of force, fraud or coercion.
An agency, pimp, or other controller
typically arranges appointments, and may
monitor the escort and take some or all of
the earnings.
"The ICE-led investigation began in November 2008, after a 14-year-old victim
of the escort service run by Pierre was rescued in Fort Lauderdale. Subsequently,
another 16-year-old victim of Pierre's escort service was discovered. Pierre
operated a prostitution ring disguised as an escort service from his Ft.
Lauderdale residence."
- 2009 ICE Press Release
Escort services or agencies are one venue throughwhichvictims of
sex traffickingmay be forcedto provide commercial sex. This
includes “out-call” services where the individual goes to the location
of the "john," or “in-call” services where the "john" comes to the
individual's location. Anagency, pimp, or other controller typically
arranges appointments, andmay monitor the victimandtake some
or all of the earnings. Escorts are typically female, thoughsome are
male. They may be adults or minors, U.S. citizens or immigrants.
Escort services are commonly advertisedonline throughspecific
escort websites as well as general sites suchas backpage.comand
other media.
A22-year-oldwomanbeganworkingat anexotic dance club. After
afew months, she was approachedby arecruiter, who toldherthat
she couldmake more money as part of his escort agency. The young
womaninitially agreed. The recruiterpostedadvertisements forthe
womeninthe escort agency onbackpage.com, andarranged
meetings with clients. The youngwomanwas requiredto keepa
cell phone with herat all times andcheckinwith the recruiterevery
few hours. Whenthe youngwomanwantedto visit friends in
anotherstate, the recruiterthreatenedherandtoldhershe hadto
keepworking. Afterafew months, the youngwomandecidedshe
wantedto leave the situation. Whenthe recruiterlearnedshe had
gone to ajob interview, he physically assaultedherandthreatenedto harmherfriends if she triedto
leave again.
*Basedoncalls receivedby the National HumanTraffickingResource Center. Identifyingdetails
have beenchangedto protect confidentiality.
When does it become trafficking?
Traffickingoccurs whenthe agency or pimpuses force, fraud, and/or coercionto maintaincontrol
over the escort andto cause the personto engage incommercial sex acts. A victimunder the age of 18
is consideredavictimof sex traffickingregardless of the presence of force, fraudor coercion.
Commonmeans of control include:
Force–Physical or sexual abuse, ofteninthe formof repeatedrapes by one or more people to create
submission;confinement to the residence;restrictions onmovement andcommunicationto family and
friends;frequent forcedmovement betweencities.
Fraud–False promises of abetter life throughthe trafficker presentingas aboyfriendor caretaker
figure;false informationabout workingconditions, payment, andwhether commercial sex will be
required;tellingthe victimthat if he or she initially consentedto be part of the escort service that he or
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she must continue to consent andis not avictim.
Coercion –Threats of harmto the victimor victim’s family;threats to shame the victimby revealing
the commercial sex to his or her family andothers inthe community;verbal, psychological and
emotional abuse;nightly quotas;confiscationof birthcertificates andother identificationdocuments;
forceddependency onthe pimp, agency or controller;exploitationof victims’ shame;rumors of or
witnessedviolence at hands of traffickers;cycle of rewards andpunishments;convincingthe victim
that police/service providers will only see the victimas aprostitute andwill arrest andnot assist the
victim;threats of deportationif victimis aforeignnational.
*The above list is not comprehensive orcumulative. One element of force, fraudorcoercionmay be
present, ormany.
Intersections with Other Sex Trafficking Networks
Latino Residential Brothels and Latino Escort "Delivery" Services–Anescort “delivery”
service model is closely relatedto the operationof residential brothels. A brothel might convert into
anescort service if asingle residential locationbecomes knownor targetedby lawenforcement. Inthe
“outcall” or escort service model, the womenare “delivered” to abuyer’s house, apartment, or hotel
room, insteadof the buyers goingto acentralizedlocation.
Pimp-Controlled Sex Trafficking–Pimps sometimes use anescort service model to facilitate
commercial sex. Inadditionto providingcommercial sex throughescort arrangements, victims are
commonly requiredto provide commercial sex viastreet tracks , truck stops andother settings.
Regardless of the venue, victims are requiredto meet daily quotas andto handover all earnings to
their pimp.
Statistics Snapshot
While statistics onthe scope of sex traffickinginescort services are not available, a2008study
provides insight into the dynamics of the network. Of the womenandgirls interviewed, 41% of the
womenandgirls were escorts, and28% startedas escorts whenfirst recruitedinto commercial sex.
Ninety-three percent hadpimps whenthey were first recruited. Of the 41% who were escorts, 67% had
experiencedviolence by their pimps and59% saidthat they hadbeencoerced.1
For more resources onsex trafficking, click here
1 Jody Raphael andJessicaAshley. Domestic Sex Traffickingof Chicago WomenandGirls. Illinois
Criminal Justice InformationAuthority andDePaul University College of Law, 2008. 8, 10, 25.
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