Sex Trafficking of Children in Kentucky Following Safe Harbor Law Implementation: Similarities and Differences in Exploitation, Victims’ Responses and Community Responses by Victims’ Gender

Author: Cole, Jennifer

Abstract: Although many estimates of sex trafficking of children find that girls comprise the majority of identified victims, sex trafficking of boys is a serious social harm, yet it is under-researched and under-recognized in relevant legislation and policy, and thereby less likely to be detected and addressed. Administrative data from juvenile court, juvenile justice, and child welfare, and surveys with 365 service providers post-implementation of the safe harbor law in Kentucky were analyzed to understand the role of victims’ gender in exploitation and responses to sex trafficking of children. Girls were disproportionately screened positive for human trafficking in juvenile justice; yet boys comprised the majority of positive screens in juvenile court. Key informants noted that ideas about masculinity conflict with seeing boys as victims and acknowledging the harms to them, and heteronormative beliefs about boys’ sexuality may create distress for boys. Ideas for improving awareness campaigns and trainings to educate about sex trafficking of boys are discussed.

Keywords: boys, commercial sexual exploitation, juveniles, minors