Abstract
There have been many attempts to estimate the number of juveniles who are being prostituted (or trafficked) within the United States. These estimates range from 1,400 to 2.4 mil‐ lion, although most fall between 300,000 and 600,000. BUT PLEASE DO NOT CITE THESE NUMBERS. READ ON. A close look at these diverse estimates reveals that none are based on a strong scientific foundation. They are mostly educated guesses or extrapolations based on questionable assumptions. They do not have the substance of typically re‐ ported crime statistics, like the number of robberies or the number of child sexual abuse victims. The reality is that we do not currently know how many juveniles are being prostituted. Scientifically credible estimates do not exist. The most often cited estimates on the prostitution of juveniles (also known as domestic minor sex trafficking) will be described here and their source, along with the major problems with their validity
Department
Crimes Against Children Research Center, Sociology
Publication Date
5-2012
Publisher
Crimes against Children Research Center
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Stransky, M., & Finkelhor, D. (2008 – revised 2012). Sex trafficking of minors: How many juveniles are being prostituted in the US? Durham, NH: Crimes against Children Research Center.