Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Olivia Yu

Abstract

Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) is a human rights problem that plagues all sizes of U.S. communities. The phenomenon of young sex trafficking victims returning to their trafficker after intervention by law enforcement and social services professionals exacerbates the DMST problem. The purpose of this qualitative study was to learn the perceptions of professionals who work with DMST youths to help understand (a) The reasons DMST victims return to their traffickers after intervention and (b) strategies that might reduce the likelihood of such returns. The study had three conceptual frameworks: social learning theory, routine activities theory, and anomie theory. Data were collected from online interviews with 13 law enforcement, social services, and child advocate professionals who had worked at least five years with domestically sex-trafficked minors. Participants were asked six open-ended questions about their perceptions and beliefs about DMST youth returning to their trafficker. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and qualitatively analyzed to determine common themes in interview responses. Analysis determined five main themes along with subthemes in the professionals’ answers to interview questions. The themes of Attitudes Toward DMST Youths, Grooming, and the four subthemes of Other Return Reasons indicated answers to the first research question. The themes of Intervention Strategies, with its five subthemes, and Need for Resources addressed the second research question. Interpretations of the results, limitations, and recommendations were provided. The study’s implications for positive social change included its potential contribution to law enforcement and social service providers developing programming they could utilize to reduce the number of domestic minor sex trafficking victims returning to their traffickers after intervention.

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