Improving Outcomes for Youth
Who Are Victims of Commercial Sexual
Exploitation
Pat Mims, SEM Coordinator
Bay Area Women Against Rape (BAWAR)
pat@bawar.com
What is CSEC?
• CSEC = Commercially Sexually Exploited Children
– Sexual activity involving a child in exchange for
something of value, or promise thereof, to the child or
another person or persons
– The child is treated as a commercial and sexual object
Types of Commercial Sexual Exploitation
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Street Prostitution
Pornography
Stripping
Erotic/nude massage
Escort services, private parties
Phone sex lines
Gang-based prostitution
Interfamilial pimping
Forms of Internet-based exploitation
Local CSEC Data
• In 2003, the Oakland Police Department
identified 293 minors being prostituted by at
least 155 pimps over a 1½ year time period.
• In 2010 BAWAR served 130 CSEC girls, the
average age being 15 year old.
• Since January 2011 BAWAR has served over
115 cases of minors involved in CSEC activity.
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Where Minors Are Coming From
CSEC Data:
• 62% of the youth are
from Alameda County
• 36% were trafficked
from other areas,
including Sacramento,
Contra Costa, Santa
Clara, San Mateo,
Stanislaus, and San
Bernardino counties
• 2% were trafficked
from out of state
Out of
State
2%
Other CA
counties
36%
Alameda
62%
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CSEC Data:
Ages of Minors
12 to 13
3%
The age range of the
identified minors was
between 12-18 years
old.
• 53% of the youth
were 17+
• 44% were 14-15
• 3% were 12-13 years
old
•2009, one 11 year old
was detained and
received services.
14 to 16
44%
17+
53%
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CSEC Data:
Racial breakdown of
minors:
• 70% AfricanAmerican
• 18% Latina
• 4% Caucasian
• 4% Multi-racial
• 2% Filipina
• 2% Unknown
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CSEC Data:
• 57% of the youth
were on juvenile
probation for various
offenses
• 38% are active foster
care kids
• 5% have no previous
involvement in either
the dependency or
delinquency systems
System Involvement
No dependency or
delinquency
systems
involvement 5%
In the
Foster
care
system
38%
On
Probation
57%
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Who are these kids?
• Kids who have experienced physical and sexual
abuse
• Throwaways
• Witness to the death of one or both parents or an
acts of violence
• Absence of a father figure
• Neglected
• Don’t feel understood
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BAWAR CSEC Services
• 24 hour First Crisis Response
• 12 weeks of Sexual Assault Counseling (Individual)
• Ongoing Advocacy
• Court/Interview Accompaniment
• In-custody Visits
• Detention-base education and support groups
• Care kits (toiletries, books, gift cards)
• Referrals/Information
• 24 hour crisis hotline
• Diversion program
Systems Partners
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CSEC Service providers
Local law enforcement
Probation
District Attorney
Public defender
Social services
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BAWAR CSEC Services: Current Challenges
• Large percentage of CSEC identified in Alameda County
are out of county residents
• Need for rape crisis centers throughout state/nation to
work directly with CSEC minors and serve as a “first
responder” for CSEC who are returning to their county
of origin.
• Need for rape crisis advocates to provide court
advocacy services to CSECs who are involved in the
juvenile justice system.
• Need for more trauma-informed services and supports
for system involved minors who are at risk for or
involved in CSEC activity.
For More Information: pat@bawar.org
Every child should have the opportunity
to be just that…A CHILD
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