Sex Trafficking: How Does Your State Rank?

A national report card on anti-trafficking laws is out today.

What should states do to prosecute traffickers instead of the victims? What fuels this grotesque and widespread crime? Which states are best at providing a "protective response" and why? Tune into a live Shared Hope International press conference to learn more.

Click below to watch the live press conference at 11:15 am EST for the release of the 2016 Protected Innocence Challenge Report Cards!

The Protected Innocence Challenge Report card grades each state on its progress in passing laws to protect and heal child victims of sex trafficking.

SHI completed the first report card in 2011; this is the sixth.

Twenty-six states failed to adequately protect children from sex traffickers, the non-profit, anti-trafficking group said in 2011, when it released its first report card.

Then, only 23 states had a sex trafficking law specifically protecting DMST victims; today, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have such laws.

In 2011, only 5 states had eliminated criminal liability for prostitution for DMST victims; today 19 states and the District of Columbia do.

The work SHI has been doing is paying off.

"I'm hapy today to tell you one conclusion of all the research of all the states this year and the grading," said Shared Hope Founder and President Congresswoman Linda Smith."

"Every state has a law against trafficking. Hawaii joined this year with the last state law," Smith said.

She added, "And most state laws include penalties for buying sex with a minor."  

"Today there's not a state in the country that has a failing grade." 

Smith said that the majority of states in the 2016 report has an A or B grade.   

"Louisiana has held it's first place score of 98.5 but Tennessee is nipping at their heels. They have 98 percent Smith shared at Thrusday's press conference.

Florida has become the first state to have a score of 100 percent.

SHI assess state laws on six dimensions such as Criminalization of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, Criminal Provisions Addressing Demand, Criminal Provisions for Traffickers, Criminal Provisions for Facilitators, Protective Provisions for Child Victims and Criminal Justice Tools for Investigation and Prosecution.

In the majority of states, minors can still be criminally charged for prostitution although federal law sees them as victims of sex trafficking. Abused by the brutal world of commercial sex, these children are then victimized by the judicial system. They are #TwiceCondemned. 

For more information on how your state ranks, log onto Shared Hope International.