Domestic minor sex trafficking in the United States: A victim-centered approach

Abstract

The United States is one of the world’s largest sex-trafficking markets. Many of the victims are victims of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST). DMST involves the recruitment, harboring, and transportation of a person, who is a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States, under the age of 18 years for the purpose of commercial sex (TVPA 2000). It has been estimated that approximately 150, 000-300, 000 U.S. children are at risk for commercial sexual exploitation in the United States each year. However, despite the fact that DMST is a rapidly growing problem in the United States, only recently has there been legislative efforts to address this serious problem. In this chapter, the authors, using a victim-centered approach, examine the nature and extent of DMST and the legislative and social responses to the victims of DMST.