Five Ways to Spot Sex Trafficking in Las Vegas

It is no secret that sex trafficking takes place more often than not in Nevada as prostitution is legal in some counties, but the exploitation of minors is illegal. Sex trafficking is nothing short of slavery, where individuals are forced into sex acts for money- the majority of them being underage girls. Many of these cases are uncovered in my own backyard, or the city of Las Vegas.

 According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 161 human trafficking cases were reported in Nevada in 2016, ranking it in the top 10 for the number of cases reported within the U.S.

Trafficking targets mostly underage girls, and cases are usually exposed by means of an anonymous phone tip. Minors as young as 12 years old have been reported to the hotline.

Tourists that come to Vegas to partake in the debauchery the city has to offer are often targeted by pimps in efforts to generate lucrative business. Pimps target tourists by offering them escort services straight to their hotel rooms. What many of these tourists do not know is these women may be victims of sex trafficking, and may even be minors.

In Las Vegas, sex trafficking is also popular in massage parlors, as well as strip clubs.

In 2016, the University of Nevada Las Vegas, my college campus, launched a $600,000 research initiative  focusing on human sex trafficking. Criminal justice professor Alexis Kennedy is currently interviewing victims of all ages in efforts to gain better insight on the issue.

"Girls we arrest, the 150-200 a year here in Las Vegas, about 80 percent of them are local," says Kennedy, making this an issue within Nevada’s borders that needs to be addressed. Girls are often found soliciting by undercover police, and then are taken into custody where their safety is priority.

The only way to help get these enslaved girls off the streets is with the help of the public. Here are five ways to spot sex trafficking that you should consider when suspicious:

 
1.     The person seems anxious or paranoid, and avoids eye contact at all costs.

2.     Bruises, cuts, or signs of physical abuse are apparent on the individual.

3.     The person appears to be in a relationship with someone that seems dominating.

4.     The person seems secretive or cannot answer questions about where they live or their home life.

5.     The person has no form of identification such as a drivers license or passport.

A good rule of thumb is if you see or feel that someone is out of place late at night on the Las Vegas strip or in a casino, they probably should not be there and you should speak up. Many sex trafficking cases take place on the strip or in busy areas, so being aware is key.


The most important thing to do says professor Kennedy is to always trust your gut instinct if you feel something is wrong. If you or someone you know becomes suspicious of sex trafficking, they should contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

 Tweet: Sex trafficking in #Vegas? Here are 5 ways to spot a victim on the strip or in your hotel: (insert link to story here)

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