MCJ 522 Excelsior College Week 3 What Does Sex Trafficking Look Like Discussion

“In reality, victims of human trafficking are often left voiceless and completely unseen by society.”

~Elise Stefanik

Sex trafficking. Who are the victims? Who are the traffickers? To tackle the issue of sex trafficking, do we need to change our attitude towards those involved?

Please refer to the discussion rubric for posting expectations and information on how to maximize your points.

Part I: Initial Post (Due Week 3)

Watch the video, Sex Trafficking in America, a FRONTLINE documentary that follows a police unit working to address sexual exploitation. The film includes the viewpoint of local law enforcement, prosecutors, and the women themselves.

Sex Trafficking in America
Time: 0:54:48
Closed Captioned

Also, read the article, Efforts to Stop Human Trafficking (Links to an external site.), which discusses the efforts of the Department of Justice to address human trafficking. This reading is a good example of the policy development process.

After watching the video, consider what preconceptions you have about what sex trafficking is, who is affected by it, and how the criminal justice system can address the problem. In order to adequately address the discussion questions, you will need to research the issue, which will include reviewing the academic material as well as state and local policy responses.

Lastly, when responding to your classmate’s postings, consider what they discovered that was different than what you discovered and what role the community plays in addressing this problem. Engaging in a thoughtful discussion with your classmates benefits everyone and highlights different ways to approach a problem.

Address the following questions and then discuss* with your classmates:

1. In what ways did the video change or challenge your assumptions about human trafficking?
2. If your state has an anti-trafficking statute, how does the law define the crime?
3. How does human trafficking differ from smuggling?
4. Why might law enforcement and the community not be aware of human trafficking crimes?
5. In what businesses within your community might trafficking occur?

(Adapted from “The Crime of Human Sex Trafficking, ” 2019)