Excuse me if I need to rant.
My latest project is a mystery set in the world of human
trafficking. I’ve learned way too much about the subject. In my day job, I’ve
done advocacy to get stronger legislation against this crime and to educate
social workers, advocates … anyone who’ll listen to me… about this horrific
crime. Just yesterday I received the latest analysis about sex trafficking in
the US, put out by the Polaris Project, a world-wide organization dedicated to
help victims of this crime.
Here are some “fun facts” I’ve learned in my research:
There are 4.5 million victims of sex trafficking worldwide
and at least 150,000 in the US.
Many of these are CHILDREN, some younger than ten. The
twelve-to-fourteen year old group is especially targeted.
According to a US Dept of Justice report, only 2 percent are
rescued.
Many of these victims start out as runaways. Data from the
Center for Missing Children states that one in six runaways become sex
trafficking victims. Last year it was one in seven. This is about 5500
children.
68 percent of victims were, at one point, in our foster care
system.
I’ve talked with law enforcement, too. Since this crime has
been on my internal radar, I’m stunned at how much trafficking happens right
here in South Carolina. I can cite details of six cases with multiple victims
just in the past year. Three girls from a neighborhood not far from mine were
victims.
Why is there so much trafficking? Because it is LUCRATIVE.
Three victims will net a trafficker a half million a year. It’s more appealing
than drug dealing because you sell the same “product” over and over. Trafficking
operations are extensive, crossing state and country lines, and are hard to shut
down because they can move victims quickly.
Major sporting events are a hub for sex trafficking. The
Superbowl, the Final Four, even The Masters. If you want to see a powerful 3-minute
film about this, go here. It isn’t graphic but it’s quite powerful:
Traffickers advertise on the dark web and on sites like “Backpage.”
I visited Backpage. I saw photos of young women promising to give me the time
of my life. New faces appeared every couple of seconds. It made my stomach
hurt.
While my agency, and other advocates, succeeded in getting
progressive, aggressive human trafficking laws passed, they are poorly
enforced. Just because a new law exists doesn’t mean law enforcement,
prosecutors, and judges know how to use it. More education to be done!
And here’s where my rant really amps up: WHY does human
trafficking flourish? Because of the demand. I don’t think it’s just pedophiles
who line the trafficker’s pockets. It’s men from all over the country who may
be curious. Who pretend what they are doing isn’t assaulting a child. Who think
it’s okay, they won’t get caught, etc. etc.
Penalties for being a customer are not severe. When a
trafficking ring is busted, the newspapers will show the faces of the
traffickers, but not the clients. I’ve asked law enforcement about this
(repeatedly) and get stammered responses… “Don’t want to try them before they
go to court…” when the answer is really far less palatable: they are people we
KNOW. They may be judges or doctors or accountants. They may be husbands and
fathers. They may live right next door.
What would happen if we strengthened the laws against the
client base? What if a few faces made the front page of the papers? Maybe then,
the husbands/fathers/lawyers/judges/doctors might not indulge their curiosity. Maybe,
with stiffer consequences, with the risk of public exposure, we could reduce
the demand for sex trafficking.
And maybe that would save some children from a life of
horrific pain and abuse.
In my novel-in-process, I struggle to keep it from being too
dark. It needs to entertain, and I’m hoping it will educate, too. I’m not sure
how to put a softer spin on the subject, or even if I should. Would dark
subject matter keep you from wanting to read?
We should forget about trying to reform crooks (that includes both pimps and johns). It is a business proposition and we need to make it so expensive that it is now longer “profitable.”
ReplyDeleteWhile it might be tossed out of court for cruel and unusual, Johns caught with underage children should be forced to wear front and back placards for a month while performing visible community service. The signs proclaim they were caught f$$king underage children. No reason to send them to prison where we have to pay for their room and board. Humiliation would prove a very strong deterrent.
~ Jim
I like your ideas, Jim!
ReplyDeleteSuch novels are a reminder that these crimes are frequent and in many communities. People need to know what signs to look for and report to authorities. Good luck with your novel
ReplyDeleteIt's a problem I can't get my head around.
ReplyDeleteThose statistics are horrifying. Would I read a book with a novel with a dark story line? Yes. Absolutely, I do it all the time, although the fact that it deals with crimes against children might make it a harder sell, it's an important topic.I like Jim's ideas by the way.Always thought the days of the pillory should be brought back. For a while in South Florida photos of johns were posted on billboards in the areas they were arrested. I don't know the details. I assume they were convicted and the humiliation was in lieu of a stiffer sentence, but you know what - it worked. There is still prostitution in the area - hey, this is Miami - but the streets have been cleaned up considerably and the area is attracting high end restaurants and starting to flourish. Humiliation works.
ReplyDeleteWe also need to decriminalize most prostitution. Most people are victims who fall into that world.
ReplyDeleteI would read a book with that dark background. There are many things we don't want to acknowledge that should be dragged from the darkness into the light. In some states the names of the "Johns" are published and announced over the radio. The problem needs to be addressed from that end.
ReplyDeleteCarla, we're states apart and tackling the same crime! I'm working with the labor trafficking side of things because my book is aimed at younger readers, 10 and up. The victims are not the main characters. What I'm incorporating are the warning signs--the promises traffickers make to get children to go with them. It's mostly a light read, but may prove "untouchable" because of the subject matter. It's my belief, though, that we need to tackle difficult issues. The more awareness there is--the more outrage we express as a society--the less comfortable the johns will be. We teach young children not to go with strangers, but by 12, strangers offering a lifestyle change can look pretty attractive. Best wishes with your book! Go as dark as you need to. I think it's easier to lighten up a deep emotional scene than to remember where you hid the seeds of it in the first draft.
ReplyDeleteChris, you are exactly right. Kids between 12 and 14 are easy targets. They are vulnerable to predators. Their brains aren't completely formed yet and don't know how to discern real danger much of the time. Awareness is key. I'm okay with terrifying parents, BTW.
ReplyDeleteThis is a horrendous crime! I have seen documentaries about human trafficking, but I was stunned to learn that 68% of the victims had been in foster care at one time. That is chilling and so sad. I would definitely read a book with dark subject matter, Carla.
ReplyDeleteCarla, I've heard of this before, and it sickens me. I agree with Jim, and I also think there should be stiff penalties and public humiliation for anyone who pays for sex, especially with youngsters. I knew that all wasn't perfect in the foster care system since some people only take in kids for the money they receive, but I had no idea of that high a percentage. Good luck with finishing your book.
ReplyDeletePrevention is key. Help the kids not be vulnerable. Punish the offenders so the crime becomes too risky. Get rid of the demand.
ReplyDeleteRant away, Carla. I've been following this issue - there is a new task force in my county to deal with this crime and, I hope, save the children caught up in this nightmare. Go as dark as you need to on this - good literature changes things.
ReplyDeleteAnd Jim - your solution is brilliant!
I'd read a true account of such abuse--if the story didn't use "education" as a ruse to provide titilation, which I'm sure your's wouldn't (given your sensibilities). And, I agree with you on the need to expose the "Johns." They may be using self-deception (Satre's concept of bad faith) and exposure would force them to come to terms with their own complicity.
ReplyDelete