Modern Day Slavery
Reneé Breazeale, LCDC
Program Director
Homeward Bound Inc., Dallas, TX
TIPPS Conference, Dallas, TX
June 15, 2010
Sex Trade
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Prostitution
Fantasy Operatives
Escorts
Exotic Dancing
Strip Clubs
Internet
 Pornography sites
 Chat rooms
 Clandestine sites/rooms/forums
 Craig’s list
Pornography
 Print
 Audio/Visual
Telephone sex lines
Sex Tourism
Human Trafficking and Prostitution
by Melissa Farley, Ph.D.
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“According to U.N. estimates, approximately 2.5 million people are being trafficked
around the world at any given time, 80% of them women and children. Conservative
estimates suggest that the sex industry generates some $32 billion annually.
However, estimates of income generated from prostitution in one city, Las Vegas, are
as high as $5 billion. Today, sex trafficking is a high-tech, globalized, electronic
market, and predators are involved at all levels, using the same methods to control
prostituted women that batterers use against their victims: minimization and denial of
physical violence, economic exploitation, social isolation, verbal abuse, threats and
intimidation, physical violence, sexual assault, and captivity. Despite the illogical
attempt of some to distinguish prostitution from trafficking, trafficking is simply the
global form of prostitution. Sex trafficking may occur within or across international
borders, thus women may be either domestically or internationally trafficked or both.
Young women are trafficked for sexual use from the countryside to the city, from one
part of town to another, and across international borders to wherever there are men
who will buy them.” (published by Psychologists for Social Responsibility
psysr.org/issues/trafficking/farley.php; also available via http://www.prostitutionresearch.com/)
Human Trafficking
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Domestic victims of trafficking are those who are trafficked within
the United States and are either U.S. citizens or lawful permanent
residents. ( http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/SPOGReport-Final9-5-07.pdf)
International victims of trafficking are those who are trafficked into
the United States from other countries. ( http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/SPOGReport-Final9-507.pdf)
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Victims either do not consent to their situations, or if they initially
consent, that consent is rendered meaningless by the actions of the
traffickers.
Ongoing exploitation of victims to generate illicit profits for the
traffickers. Trafficking need not entail the physical movement of a
person (but must entail the exploitation of the person for labor or
commercial sex) (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/index.html)
Different than smuggling which involves consent
Overview of Human Trafficking Issue
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Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery.
Victims of human trafficking are young children,
teenagers, men and women. Victims of human trafficking
are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose
of sexual exploitation or forced labor. After drug dealing,
trafficking of humans is tied with arms dealing as the
second largest criminal industry in the world, and is the
fastest growing. Many victims of human trafficking are
forced to work in prostitution or the sex entertainment
industry. But trafficking also occurs in forms of labor
exploitation, such as domestic servitude, restaurant
work, janitorial work, sweatshop factory work and
migrant agricultural work.
Overview of Human Trafficking Issue
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Traffickers use various techniques to instill fear in victims and to keep them enslaved.
Some traffickers keep their victims under lock and key. However, the more frequent
practice is to use less obvious techniques including:
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Debt bondage - financial obligations, honor-bound to satisfy debt
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Isolation from the public - limiting contact with outsiders and making sure that any
contact is monitored or superficial in nature
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Isolation from family members and members of their ethnic and religious community
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Confiscation of passports, visas and/or identification documents
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Use or threat of violence toward victims and/or families of victims
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The threat of shaming victims by exposing circumstances to family
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Telling victims they will be imprisoned or deported for immigration violations if they
contact authorities
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Control of the victims' money, e.g., holding their money for "safe-keeping”
In October 2000, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) made human
trafficking a Federal crime. It was enacted to prevent human trafficking overseas, to protect
victims and help them rebuild their lives in the U.S., and to prosecute traffickers of humans
under Federal penalties. Prior to 2000, no comprehensive Federal law existed to protect
victims of trafficking or to prosecute their traffickers.
Prostitution
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Defined as “Prostitution is the act or practice of being
available for sexual services with another person in return for
payment. Persons who execute such activity are called
prostitutes. Prostitution is one of the branches of the sex
industry. Estimates place the annual revenue generated from
the global prostitution industry to be over $100 billion.”
http://www.havocscope.com/blackmarket/prostitution/
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Spectrum of behaviors
Usually not a single occurrence
It is a behavior NOT an identity
Prostitution
As stated by one of the peer advocates working
with the New Life Opportunities Project:
“It is what we DO not WHO we are”
New Life Opportunities (NLO)
Prostitution Diversion Initiative (PDI)
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Dallas Police Department lead initiative – only one of its kind
in Nation
45+ Social Service Providers engaged
University of North Texas – Dept of Epidemiology – lead
research and manage outcome data
Volunteer driven effort
First operation in October 2007 – planning started in May
2007
One night month – first Wednesday
Staging area located at I-20 & Lancaster Rd to target 5 truck
stops in area
Vice and Patrol officers involved
November 2009 added Bill J. Priest Institute as alternative site
– located downtown on Corinth
NLO & PDI (cont) Oct ’08 – Sept ’09
Annual Report: Summary of Findings
Demographics
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Ages of participants at contact ranged from 17-63 years old, with an average age of 37
years
Eighty percent of participants were African American
Majority contacted were females (99%)
Nearly half had less than a high school education
Fifty nine percent of those assessed have children
Mode of Entry to PDI
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One person voluntarily walked on-site for services and/or treatment
Seventy one additional persons entered the New Life Program outside the night of the PDI
Physical Health Problems
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Of the 182 tested, over half of participants (56%) tested positive for a STD
20 new cases of syphilis and 2 new HIV cases were identified
Twenty-one percent of participants reported high blood pressure of which 77% had been
treated
Other chronic conditions reported included asthma, sickle cell anemia, diabetes, seizures,
congestive heart failure, cancer, and chronic back pain
Unusual presentations encountered included blindness, deafness, and an intact
tracheotomy tube
NLO & PDI (cont) Oct ’08 – Sept ’09
Annual Report: Summary of Findings
Mental Health Disorders
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Fifty four percent of participants self-reported having a mental health condition
Of these, over half (60%) reported having more than one mental health condition
On average, nearly three quarters of participants report receiving treatment for their
mental health condition
Nearly one third of participants reported major depression or bipolar disorder,
respectively
Sixteen percent of participants reported having schizophrenia
Thirty seven participants have attempted suicide; 59% of whom received medical
care
Eighty five percent of participants were diagnosed on Axis I (DSM criteria)
Nearly two thirds of participants received diagnoses on multiple axes (DSM criteria)
Substance Abuse
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Ninety seven percent of participants reported using drugs and alcohol
Nearly half of self-reported drug users admitted to using more than one drug
Seventy two percent stated they had tried to quit drugs and/or alcohol
The majority stated they used treatment programs to try to quit
NLO & PDI (cont) Oct ’08 – Sept ’09
Annual Report: Summary of Findings
Outcomes
 Sixty one percent (n=121) of contacts wanted to go into treatment
 Eighty six of the 198 contacts (43%) were eligible for immediate diversion
to treatment services
 Nearly half of those eligible opted to enter the PDI New Life treatment
program
 Eighteen (33%) completed the initial phase of treatment, continue to use
services, and have not subsequently re-offended in Dallas County
 73% using alternative entry completed the initial treatment program, 77%
not subsequently re-offending in Dallas County
 Twenty five participants were repeaters to the PDI in the second year
 A 38.7% decrease in crime in beats where the truck stops are located
*basic demographics were completed for all 198 adult prostitutes contacted.
However, only 188 (94%) opted or were mentally able to complete triage
assessment
NLO & PDI Aggregate Data
October 2007 – September 2009 (2 yrs)
TOTAL CONTACTS = 375
**Subsequent data refer to 371 adult prostitutes contacted (3 pimps and 1 juvenile not included)
AGE
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Average: 36 (range = 17-63)
RACE
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Black = 274 (74%)
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White = 81 (22%)
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Hispanic / Latino = 14 (4%)
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American Indian = 1 (<1%)
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Asian = 1 (<1%)
SEX
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Female = 356 (96%)
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Male = 15 (4%)
REPEATERS TO PDI
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Yes = 47
MODE OF ENTRY
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Arrest = 344 (93%)
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Patrol = 178
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Vice = 166
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Walk on = 27 (7%)
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Alternative entry (2nd year only – not inclusive of total 375) = 71
NLO & PDI (cont) Aggregate Data
October 2007 – September 2009 (2 yrs)
ARREST CLASSIFICATION
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MC = 131
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MB = 63
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MA = 62
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SJ = 44
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Misdemeanor and Felony Warrants = 24
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No citations issued (earlier initiatives) = 48
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(not mutually exclusive)
ELIGIBILITY FOR IMMEDIATE DIVERSION
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Eligible for immediate diversion = 178 (48%)
FINAL DISPOSITION
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Treatment = 106 (29%)
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Homeward Bound = 51
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Nexus = 41
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Others* = 14
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Jail = 182 (49%)
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Declined Treatment / Citation= 82 (20%)
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Missing = 1 (<1%)
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60% of those eligible for treatment, opted to enter treatment
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23 of the 92 (25%) at Homeward Bound or Nexus completed initial treatment program
RE-ARRESTS
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After contact, 60% (n=186) have not re-offended within Dallas County
NLO & PDI (cont) Aggregate Data
October 2007 – September 2009 (2 yrs)
DATA 2007-2009 Remaining data inclusive of adult prostitutes completing assessment (n=269)
OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS
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Parous (62%)
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High school graduate or higher education (49%)
PHYSICAL HEALTH CONDITIONS SELF-REPORTED
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Asthma
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High Blood Pressure
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Seizures
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Others: diabetes, cancer, anemia, lupus, arthritis, hypoglycemia, cirrhosis, COPD, fractures, and
chemical burns
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54% tested positive for STD
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246 were presumptively treated
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS SELF-REPORTED
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54% self-reported having a mental condition
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Over half of these reported having more than one
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30% major depression
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29% bipolar
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19% suicide attempt
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16% schizophrenia
SUBSTANCE USE
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97% self-report using abusing drugs or alcohol
SUCCESSES 15 of the 23 (65%) treatment completers remain abstinent and in supportive services with no
subsequent re-offenses in Dallas County
Adjunct developments to PDI/NLO
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ID cards for NLO women
Collaboration with Dallas County Community College District
for educational support
Coordination between Dallas County Sheriff’s Department
and Dallas Police Department
DNA database for post-mortem identification
National Conference on Prostitution – 2nd annual scheduled
for November 2010 – 1st had 200 attendees from all over US
& Canada
“John School” for solicitors of prostitution
Salvation Army hosts a family support group for friends &
family of persons involved in the sex trade
Other identified issues
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Trauma
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Typically early on-set
Multiple forms of trauma
Multiple perpetrators
Developmental issues
Attachment issues
Disassociation
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Physical
Emotional
Marginalization & Disenfranchisement
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Marginalization: to relegate to an
unimportant or powerless position within a
society or group
Disenfranchisement: : to deprive of a
franchise, of a legal right, or of some privilege
or immunity; i.e. to deprive of the right to vote
Marginalization & Disenfranchisement
By-products:
 Isolation
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Loss of social skills
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Social behaviors compromised or lost
Social norms skewed
Loss of communication skills
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Geographic
Emotional
Inability to identify and/or verbalize needs appropriately
Survival functioning
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Focus on only those things necessary to survive (food,
shelter, clothing)
Trauma & Substance Abuse
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Of clients in substance abuse treatment, 12-34%
have current PTSD. For women, rates are 3359%
By gender: for women, typically a history of
sexual or physical childhood trauma; for men
combat or crime
Drug choice: No one drug of choice, but PTSD
associated with more severe drugs, i.e. cocaine,
opiods; “self-medication” in 2/3rds of cases, i.e.
PTSD first then substance abuse
Source: Seeking Safety, Dr. Lisa Najavits
Trauma & Substance Abuse –
Treatment Issues
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Other life problems are common, e.g. other Axis I disorders, personality
disorders, interpersonal & medical problems, inpatient admissions, low
compliance with aftercare, homelessness, domestic violence
PTSD does not go away with abstinence from substances; and PTSD
symptoms are widely reported to worsen with initial abstinence
Separate treatment systems create specific difficulties with these clients
Fragile treatment alliances and multiple crises are common
Treatments helpful for either disorder alone may be problematic for
someone with both disorders (e.g. exposure therapy, twelve-step
groups, use of benzos); also, some messages in substance abuse
treatment may be problematic, “hitting bottom” “powerlessness”
“confrontation” (Najavits, L. (2001). Seeking Safety. The Guildford Press.)
A snapshot of NLO women at
Homeward Bound
Issue
Yes
No
unknown
Co-morbidity
25
4
Axis III complications
Prior treatment for CD issues
Prior treatment for MH issues
16
19
22
15
12
9
Prior treatment for emotional trauma
12
19
Hx of suicidal/homocidal ideation/attempt
15
16
Hx
Hx
Hx
Hx
Hx
Hx
8
2
2
22
14
22
23
29
29
9
17
9
of
of
of
of
of
of
self-mutilation
learning issues, i.e. disability
ADHD dx
incarceration
homelessness
domestic violence
Hx of sexual abuse
11
20
Hx
Hx
Hx
Hx
10
23
4
4
11
8
27
27
of
of
of
of
sexual assault
pregnancies
abortions
miscarriage
31 respondents over 55 day period - March - May 2010
AGE RANGE = 19 - 60 y/o avg. age =35.9
Ethnic representation: 18 White 11 African American 1 Hispanic 1 Asian
Orientation: 29 heterosexual 1 Bisexual 1 Transgender
Add'l information
2
colon cancer, HIV, ovarian cysts, HTN, Hep C,
Cirrhosis, kidney probs
rape, giving child up for adoption, APS case, incest,
death of mother @ clt's age 4, domestic violence
hanging, stabbing self, OD, earliest reported attempt
@ age 12
cutting, burning, scratching w/sharp object
special education reported
perpetrators: mother's boyfriend, mother, father,
brother, gang members/family friends, neighbor,
cousin, uncle, significant other; earliest age of onset:
infant
perpetrators: friend's brother, date, "john"