413047-Underground-Commercial-Sex-Economy

other (25 percent), and mentorship by another individual in the underground sex economy (18 percent). 84
Studies have also shown that street-based sex workers become involved in sex work for reasons that also
included economic necessity, family and peer encouragement, coercion (by pimps, johns, or others),
childhood trauma, and social acceptance.
UCSE actors’ loved ones, friends, and acquaintances often played a critical role in influencing their initial
decision to participate. Some pimps emphasized that intimate partners asked them to manage them,
while other offenders noted that their first pimping experience followed a request from an acquaintance
or friend that was already engaged in or interested in engaging in sex work. Additionally, pimps reported
that sex workers on occasion teach pimps the “rules” of pimping. Sex workers sometimes instructed new
pimps on the “dos and don’ts” of the UCSE and demonstrated advanced knowledge that enabled them to
serve as a mentor to pimps. These findings highlight the complexity of pimp-sex worker relationships.
Alongside the similarities, there are also critical differences in the factors influencing individuals to
facilitate sex work and to engage directly in sex work; sex workers cited coercion from pimps and clients
as a critical factor influencing their involvement. Offender respondents did not report coercion by other
individuals, though they did at times feel misled or manipulated into UCSE involvement.
Practice Implications
Cities and counties should address sex trafficking as a complex problem that requires a systemwide
response, and schools, law enforcement, and social service agencies must work collaboratively to combat
sex trafficking in their communities. Prevention campaigns must ensure that both boys and girls are
educated about the role of force, fraud, coercion, and exploitation in sex trafficking. Public schools should
implement awareness campaigns. As a component of these campaigns, local law enforcement should
present in schools and share stories related to real cases, as well as encourage student outreach and
reporting to law enforcement officials. Increasing the awareness of school officials will also help them
identify at-risk or involved youth. In cities with active task forces, cross-training of local school officials
and teachers and awareness raising within the schools will encourage the active involvement of school
authorities in detecting possible cases of sex trafficking. Additionally, local service providers should also
provide information to students about what services are available if they or someone they know should
need help.
Local prevention campaigns are already developing around the country. Fairfax County, Virginia,
launched its Just Ask Prevention Project in January 2014, aimed at promoting public awareness about
domestic minor sex trafficking. Starting in the spring of 2014, Oakland, California’s Unified School
District will educate middle school boys and girls on sexual exploitation and healthy relationshipbuilding.
These local efforts are critical to enhancing boy’s and girl’s knowledge about sex trafficking.
Finding 5: Pimps rely on multiple actors to maintain control over
UCSE operations. Individuals already under pimp control play a critical
role in recruiting other individuals to engage in the UCSE; friends or
family members work as drivers or provide security; and complicit
legal businesses often enable sex trafficking operations.
Offenders reported working with multiple individuals to facilitate sex work. Thirty percent of pimps
reported working with a bottom, an employee who engages in sex work but also provides management
and oversight of other employees. Twenty-five percent of respondents reported paying non-sex work
employees to complete additional tasks associated with the business, such as driving employees to
transactions and providing security. Pimp-controlled women and girls also played an instrumental role in
promoting the business to prospective employees. They helped male pimps covertly approach individuals
84 Eighteen respondents (25 percent) to this study also reported transitioning from drug dealing to pimping. Three respondents (4
percent) cited the legality of prostitution in their home country as a primary factor influencing their decision to pimp in the United
States.
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