By Linda A Smith Samantha Healy Vardaman Melissa A Snow

The National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: America’s Prostituted Children 37Chapter 4: Recruitment and Pimp ControlA trafficker’s process of recruitment and control are sophisticated. There is a calculated method to preyingon youth, and the traffickers/pimps share tactics with each other, assist one another, and craft theirtechniques together. Experts and survivors refer to these methods as “brainwashing.” One survivor expertnoted commonalities between the tactics traffickers use and those utilized by cult leaders. 115Traffickers/pimps make it their business to understand the psychology of youth and to practice and honetheir tactics of manipulation. The trafficker’s goal is to exploit and create vulnerabilities and remove thecredibility the minor holds in the eyes of their families, the public, and law enforcement. The trafficker’sultimate goal is profit.Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Power and Control WheelIsolationInability to accesssupport resourcesUnfamiliar or unaware ofgeographic locationTotal control over the victimsmovementsUsingCoercion and ThreatsThreatening family membersand friendsBlackmailing the victimHarming another girl forvictim’s disobedienceEmotionalViolenceIsolating victim from social supportsCycles of affection followedby violenceShaming andhumiliatingEconomicDependenceRefusing to allow victimto go to schoolTaking all assets and moneyfrom a victimPowerandControlPhysicalViolenceTortureBranding/tattooing victimForced drug useDenying food or use ofa bathroomPurposefulManipulationLearning a victim’s insecurities overtime then exploiting knowledgeExploiting known structuralgaps in a victim’s life (such asan absent father)SexualViolenceMaking victim prostituteGang rapesWithholding sexual intimacyfor obedienceSexual humiliation andshaming115Remarks by K. Childs. Shared Hope International National Training Conference on the Sex Trafficking of America’s Youth.Transcript on file with authors.