The mission of the Crime Victims’

Institute is to :

Conduct research to examine

the impact of crime on victims

of all ages in order to promote

a better understanding of

victimization

Improve services to victims

Assist victims of crime by

giving them a voice

Inform victim-related policy-

making at the state and local

levels.

January is…

Human Trafficking Awareness Month

Texas ranks second in the nation in num-

ber of calls to the National Human Traf-

ficking Resource Center.

Houston has the highest number of vic-

tims in the nation.

The majority of cases in Texas and na-

tionwide involve human sex trafficking.

https://humantraffickinghotline.org/state/texas

https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/cj/human-

trafficking

https://polarisproject.org/

* * * * * * Below is an excerpt from Ashworth & Franklin

(2014), “Human Sex Trafficking: An Over-

view.”

The full report and others in the Human Traf-

ficking Series produced by the Crime Victims’

Institute at Sam Houston State University can

be found at:

ht tp://www.cr imevict ims inst i tute.org/

publications/

What is Human Sex Trafficking?

Recent media, scholarly, and policy atten-

tion has been paid to the national and inter-

Published by

The Crime Victims’ Institute

College of Criminal Justice

Sam Houston State University

national sex trafficking of individuals. Human

sex trafficking is the buying and/or selling of

a person in exchange for a commercial sex

act (Schauer & Wheaton, 2006). The victims

involved in sex trafficking are often vulnera-

ble, voiceless, and controlled through vio-

lence or threats of violence by a trafficker,

more commonly known as a “pimp” (Farley

et al., 2004). Human sex trafficking is referred

to as a “modern day slavery” (Venkatraman,

2003), and empirical research has demon-

strated its significance as a problem both

internationally and domestically (Schauer &

Wheaton, 2006). The victims of sex traffick-

ing, who are overwhelmingly women and

children, suffer from significant physical and

mental health issues as a result of their vic-

timization.

* * * * * *

REFERENCES

Farley, M., et al. (2004). Prostitution and

trafficking in nine countries: An update on

violence and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Journal of Trauma Practice, 2(3-4), 33-74.

Schauer, E.J., & Wheaton, E.M. (2006). Sex

trafficking into the United States: A literature

review. Criminal Justice Review, 31(2), 146-

169.

Venkatraman, B.A. (2003). Human traffick-

ing: A guide to detecting, investigating, and

punishing modern-day slavery. The Police

Chief, 70, 1-8.

The Crime Victims’ Institute has produced a series of reports on

Stalking. More information can be found at:

http://www.crimevictimsinstitute.org/publications/

The Blue Campaign reflects U.S. Department of Homeland Security efforts to

combat human trafficking. See https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign

Looking

Ahead...

Texas State University System Board of Regents

Look for upcoming publications from the Crime Victims’ Institute:

Evaluation of an Expedited Domestic Violence Court

Strangulation in Intimate Partner Violence Cases

Domestic Violence Offender Specialization

Campus Sexual Assault Series

Crime Victims’ Institute Advisory Board

Blanca Burciaga, Ft. Worth Director, Victim Assistance Unit Victoria Camp, Austin Consultant Dottie Carmichael, College Station Texas A&M PPRI

Stefani Carter, Austin

Robert Duncan, Austin TTU System Chancellor Ana Elizabeth Estevez, Amarillo District Judge Ann Matthews, Jourdanton Domestic Violence Rodman Goode, Cedar Hill Law Enforcement Teacher

Henry Porretto, Galveston Chief, Galveston Police Department Geoffrey Puryear, Georgetown District Attorney

Richard L. Reynolds, Austin Psychotherapist Stephanie Anne Schulte, El Paso ICU Nurse

Jane Shafer, San Antonio San Antonio PD Victim Liaison Debbie Unruh, Austin Ombudsman Ms. Mary Anne Wiley, Austin Office of the Governor Mark Wilson, Hillsboro Hill County Sheriff’s Office

Dr. Jaime R. Garza, Chairman San Antonio

Rossanna Salazar, Vice Chairman Austin

Charlie Amato San Antonio

Veronica Muzquiz Edwards San Antonio

David Montagne Beaumont

Vernon Reaser III Bellaire

William F. Scott Nederland

Alan L. Tinsley Madisonville

Donna N. Williams Arlington

Dylan J. McFarland Student Regent, Huntsville

Brian McCall Chancellor

We welcome your input.

Please send issues or

topics you would like to

see CVI conduct re-

search on to :

crimevictims@shsu.edu

Issue 17-1 January 2017

National Human Trafficking Awareness January

Month

National Stalking Awareness Month January

International Conference on Child and Jan. 29—Feb. 3, 2017 Family Maltreatment

San Diego, CA

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month February

Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences March 21-25, 2017 Kansas City, MO

International Symposium on Child Abuse March 27-30, 2017 Huntsville, AL