Commercial sexual exploitation of children: victim characteristics
| Published date | 12 November 2018 |
| Pages | 217-228 |
| Date | 12 November 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-04-2018-0015 |
| Author | Kristin Elizabeth Klimley,Alexis Carpinteri,Vincent B. Van Hasselt,Ryan A. Black |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Forensic practice,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Law enforcement/correctional,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice |
Commercial sexual exploitation
of children: victim characteristics
Kristin Elizabeth Klimley, Alexis Carpinteri, Vincent B. Van Hasselt and Ryan A. Black
Abstract
Purpose –The commercialized sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), specifically child trafficking,
prostitution, pornography, and enticement, has become a burgeoning topic over the past several decades.
The purpose of this paper is to determine the characteristics of those victims who were at risk for sex
trafficking, prostitution, pornography, and traveling/enticement.
Design/methodology/approach –This observational, survey design includes a records review of
18 victims who were identified by the FBI Miami Field Office. Case illustrations are provided for a more
in-depth analysis of CSEC victims.
Findings –The results of this paper indicated that hands-on sexual abuse and child prostitution were the
most common CSEC offenses that victims experienced. Additionally, Caucasian females, between 13 and
18 years of age, were often victimized. Victims more frequently experienced other forms of sexual abuse
and engaged in risky sexual behaviors outside of the victimization. Further, the majority of victims in the
sample came from a low socioeconomic background and lived in a single-parent home.
Practical implications –The current results, combined with prior research, may aid law enforcement,
mental health, and medical professionals in understanding potential characteristics correlated with various
forms of CSEC offenses.
Originality/value –To the authors’knowledge, this is one of the first descriptive studies involving case
illustrations of CSEC victims.
Keywords Children, Characteristics, Exploitation, Commercial, Victims, Sexual
Paper type Research paper
The commercialized sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) has incurred international attention as
overwhelming evidence of detrimental effects on children and adolescents has been well
documented (Klimley et al., 2017; Rahman, 2011; Svensson, 2006; Walker-Rodriguez and Hill,
2011). Trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation is considered a highly lucrative industry and
consequently,has been identified as one of the most profitable activities in the world (Kara, 2010).
Indeed,children have been recognizedas the third most profitable,illegal commodity, eclipsedonly
by the commercial sale of drugsand weapons, resulting in $5–$7bn profit per year internationally
(Arlacchi, 2000;Bump and Duncan, 2003). It is difficult to accurately determine national estimates
of incidence or prevalence of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the
USA (Institute ofMedicine and National Research Council,2013). However, it has been estimated
that as many as 293,000–300,000 children under the age of 18 are at risk of becoming sexually
exploited victims within the USA (Estes and Weiner, 2002). Among those at risk, the majority are
runaway or “throwaway”youth (i.e. living on the streets) (Walker-Rodriguez and Hill, 2011).
The most hidden form of child abuse, CSEC has reached epidemic proportions over the past
several decades (Clawson and Dutch, 2008). The World Congress against Commercial Sexual
Exploitation of Children (1996) defined CSEC as “sexual abuse of a child by another person in
return for remuneration, in cash or kind, paid to the child or to a third person(s). The child is
treated as a sexual and commercial object. The CSEC constitutes a form of coercion and
violence against children, and amounts to forced labour and a contemporary form of slavery”
(p. 1). CSEC can more easily be understood as a form of commercialized child abuse; it is the
sexual commodification of children’s bodies for the purposes of monetary or material gain
(Adelson, 2008; Bang et al., 2012; Estes and Weiner, 2002; Halter, 2010).
Received 25 April 2018
Revised 26 June 2018
26 June 2018
Accepted 27 June 2018
The statements and conclusions
expressed herein do not, in any
way, reflect or represent the
opinions or position of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation.
Kristin Elizabeth Klimley is
based at the College of
Psychology, Nova
Southeastern University, Fort
Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
Alexis Carpinteri is based at the
College of Psychology, Nova
Southeastern University, Fort
Lauderdale, Florida, USA and
Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Miami, Florida, USA.
Vincent B. Van Hasselt and
Ryan A. Black are both based
at the College of Psychology,
Nova Southeastern University,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
DOI 10.1108/JFP-04-2018-0015 VOL. 20 NO. 4 2018, pp. 217-228, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794
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