Clarifying the definition of domestic sex trafficking: perspectives of experts in the Sacramento area

Project (M.S.W., Social Work) -- California State University, Sacramento, 2013.Domestic sex trafficking is modern day slavery of United States citizens or individuals with legal residence within the United States. There is still limited understanding of the issues concerning the domestic sex trafficking population who are predominately woman and children (U.S. Department of State, 2009). The most comprehensive study to date shows between 100,000 and 300,000 minors are currently being trafficked within the United States (U.S. Department of Justice, 2007). California is considered a top location of human trafficking in the United States and Sacramento is identified as one of five primary cities for sex trafficking (Harris, 2012; WEAVE, 2013). With little research available about the domestic sex trafficking population in Sacramento, this qualitative and quantitative study provides insight to the topic of domestic sex trafficking in the Sacramento area by surveying 21 experts who work with or have knowledge of this population. Not only do the experts of this study help determine a common definition of domestic sex trafficking in the Sacramento area, this study also reveals clarity as to who the Sacramento domestic sex trafficking victims are, what their needs are, and how outreach and services can be improved to adequately assist this population.Social Wor