The Violence Project

Sonia Clark

This past week the New York Times published an editorial on the rise of child prostitution in major American cities, in particular Atlanta. The paper of record called action beyond stiffer criminal penalties, such as expanded treatment and resources for the young people caught in this cycle. Atlanta is one of 14 major U.S. cities cited by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Also on that list? Chicago.

The Barton Law and Child Policy Clinic at Emory University recently published a report on the commercial sex trade involving children in Georgia, but it included comparable information on similar laws in Illinois.

Illinois has adopted a strong criminal statute that allows the prosecution of the johns and pimps who commercially sexually exploit children. Its strong sentencing provisions appropriately reflect these crimes’ grave nature, and its provisions coincide with federal law, which will permit international victims to easily take advantage of federal immigration protections.

Illinois’ anti-human trafficking law clearly recognizes that prostituted children under the age of eighteen are victims rather than offenders. However, under Illinois’ prostitution statute there is no minimum age for commission of the offense, so these child victims can still be arrested and charged as juvenile delinquents. Moreover, the trafficking statute does not affirmatively require services to be provided to victims, and does not fund efforts to develop services. Thus, though their exploiters may be subject to more punishment, the immediate needs of child victims of commercial sexual exploitation are not met under Illinois’ anti-trafficking approach.

Illinois does attempt to address victims’ economic problems by providing for restitution and civil actions against their exploiters. However, because assets earned or used in the exploitation are forfeited to the state, it may be difficult for the victim to collect any judgments they receive. Thus, while Illinois’ efforts are admirable and may be very effective from a law enforcement standpoint, they still leave child victims of commercial sexual exploitation vulnerable and underserved.

Now, why would such an issue be talked about on a blog named The Violence Project? Because, like youth violence, the roots of child prostitution lay at the same foundation: broken communities (poverty, lack of access to resources, inadequate education, broken families, failure of institutions). It is time we begin looking at the big picture and connecting the dots before it is too late.