Identification of client involvement in sex trafficking in Mississippi.

Abstract

Objective: Sex trafficking is an unrelenting problem in Mississippi. No quantitative data currently exist on the prevalence of sex trafficking or the identification of victims in the state.

Method: This study used the Trafficking in Victims Identification Tool (TVIT) (Short Version) to identify the extent to which a sample of clients (n = 28) receiving services at a non-profit social services agency in Jackson, Mississippi, were also victims of sex trafficking.

Results: The TVIT interview tool was completed during the intake phase at one social services agency in Mississippi. Over a 90-day period, 54% (n = 15) of participants were likely to have been trafficked for sex at some point. The researcher focused on three questions identified as predictors of sex trafficking.

Discussion: This research study provides a snapshot of the potential for identifying sex trafficking victims in Mississippi.