Human Trafficking - San Diego County District Attorney

Protect San Diego Kids

Children are often enticed into sexual exploitation with the promise of something of value to themselves or another person. Traffickers offer love, safety, food, shelter, clothing, money and other incentives. Shockingly, across the nation, the average age of entry for victims of exploitation of this type is 12-14 years old. In San Diego County, the average age of entry is 16 years old.

If someone under the age of 18 is trafficked, this is child abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, caring and trained hotline staff are available 24 hours a day at 858-560-2191 or 800-344-6000.
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (sandiegocounty.gov)

Below are some of the red flags that a child is being trafficked:

Running away from home
Truancy, chronic absenteeism
Sudden drop in grades
Change of friends or alienation from longtime friends
Rumors among peers regarding sex activities
Sudden change in behavior, attitude or attire
Anger, aggression, being suicidal or fearful
Claims of a new and mysterious/secretive partner
Drug use
Weight loss
Bruises or other physical trauma
New cell phone or multiple cell phones
Use of terminology related to sex work
Tattoos
Secrecy with social media and phone

The rejection of LGBTQ+ youth by parents or peers leads to increased homelessness, and homeless youth are a natural target for traffickers. Up to 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+. Of these:

46% ran away because of family rejection
They are 7.4x more likely to experience acts of sexual violence than their heterosexual peers
They are 3-7x more likely to engage in survival sex to meet basic needs

Examples of CSEC include: