Rain Alert

Sex Trafficking: Involves using force, fraud, or coercion to cause a person to perform sexual acts. If the person is under 18, it is considered sex trafficking no matter what. There does not need to be force, fraud, or coercion, because the law says minors cannot consent to commercial sex and are always considered victims. The term Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) is another way of referring to child sex trafficking.

• Examples: Escort services, pornography, street-based sex, survival sex (exchanging sex for basic needs like food or shelter)

Labor Trafficking: Involves using force, fraud, or coercion to make someone work or provide services. This often includes threats, lies, or abuse, and usually happens in unsafe conditions with little or no pay.

• Examples: This type of trafficking can occur in industries such as agriculture, domestic work (cleaning or caregiving), construction, food services (like restaurants or food stands), traveling sales crews, and street vending.

Labor Trafficking by Forced Criminality: This refers to situations where victims are forced to engage in illegal activities as a form of labor or services. Traffickers make children or youth commit crimes, using force, fraud, or coercion as well as threats of arrest or deportation as powerful tools of control. In some cases, victims are also forced to recruit, monitor, or facilitate the commercial sexual exploitation of others.Sex trafficking can also be considered a form of forced criminality, since commercial sex acts are illegal under the law. In both cases, the criminalization of the activity allows traffickers to maintain control by threatening arrest or exposure to law enforcement.

• Examples: Drug or weapon smuggling or sales, drug cultivation, shoplifting, pickpocketing, credit card fraud, scams, or other crimes carried out for the trafficker’s benefit.

Coercion is a powerful tool to control people’s behavior without the use of physical force or constraint. It can involve threats, lies, or verbal, emotional, psychological, and financial abuse. People exploiting or trafficking others may withhold pay, create false debt, confiscate identity documents, threaten to damage victims’ reputations and families, use the threat of reporting them to authorities, supply addictive substances, and resort to other forms of psychological manipulation. Coercion often occurs in informal and formal workplaces with unsafe conditions and little or no pay.

For the purposes of this plan, children refers to individuals under the age of 18, while youth includes young people transitioning into adulthood, typically ages 18 to 24 years-old. Both groups face distinct but overlapping vulnerabilities, and the County’s response aims to meet the unique needs across this full age range.

• Over 2,200 child welfare referrals for commercial sexual exploitation were made in LA County between 2020–2023 (Child Welfare Services/Case Management System [CWS/CMS], 2024).
• 85% of CSEC referrals to the LA County Child Protection Hotline were for Black or Latinx youth (Child Welfare Services/Case Management System [CWS/CMS], 2024).
• Many affected youth remain unidentified or underserved — especially boys, LGBTQ+ youth, and those in labor trafficking or forced criminality (LA County Five-Year Strategic Plan).
• In 2023, about 1 in 6 children under the age of 18 in LA County lived in poverty – a risk factor for trafficking and other forms of exploitation (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey). (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey).
• Nearly half of California children have an immigrant parent, and in LA County, about 1 in 5 residents are undocumented or live with someone undocumented (USC Dornsife, State of Immigrants in LA County).
• In LA County, nearly 4 in 10 immigrant-headed households (about 39%) live below twice the federal poverty line, and they are more likely to experience housing instability and limited access to public supports. Economic insecurity at this scale increases vulnerability to trafficking and forced labor (LA County DCBA Report, USC Dornsife State of Immigrants in LA County).

Children and youth who experience instability – such as frequent moves, unstable housing, or changes in caregivers – along with trauma, or lack of support are especially vulnerable to trafficking. These challenges can make it easier for traffickers to manipulate, control, or take advantage of them. Belonging to a marginalized community can also increase risk, because systemic racism, poverty, immigration status, gender identity, or sexual orientation may create additional barriers to safety and support.

Some common experiences linked to increased risk include:

• A history of abuse or neglect
• Homelessness or unstable housing
• Involvement in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems
• Substance use or mental health issues
• Lack of family support
• Recent migration or relocation

Traffickers often target vulnerabilities and make offers that seem “too good to be true.” These methods are designed to build trust and dependence over time, making it harder for victims to recognize the danger or break free.

Common methods include:

• Fake job offers (e.g., modeling, acting, high-paying gigs)
• False promises of love, success, or stability
• Online grooming through social media or gaming platforms (e.g., Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Roblox, Discord, Fortnite)
• Peer recruitment — pressuring friends or classmates to meet or work for a trafficker
• Offering drugs, shelter, or gifts in exchange for sex or labor
• False promises of romance or love to gain trust, then using the relationship to make the victim perform sex or labor
• Blackmail using compromising photos or videos — often referred to as “sextortion” — where traffickers threaten to distribute nude or explicit images.
• Adventure/travel offers that turn into trafficking
• Abusing authority or impersonating authority figures (e.g. police officer, teacher, social worker, coach) to intimidate victims
• Normalizing exploitation, with many child victims in the U.S. trafficked by their own family members.

Tip: If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Trafficking can look very different from what most people imagine. Changes in behavior, appearance, or relationships may signal that a child is at risk. These signs do not always mean trafficking, but they are important red flags that a young person may be struggling and in need of support.

• Often runs away from home
• Regularly misses school or arrives late
• Sudden drop in school performance
• Possesses unexplained expensive items or large amounts of cash/prepaid cards
• Given chores or responsibilities that exceed what is typical or appropriate for their age.
• Spends time in places linked to sex work (e.g., hotels, certain streets)
• Often travels without a guardian
• Unclear relationship with parent or guardian
• Secretive about whereabouts or companions
• Shows loyalty or affection toward someone harming them
• Uses trafficking-related slang (“daddy,” “stable,” “square”)

• Unexplained injuries or signs of sexual assault
• Falls asleep during school and/or difficulty focusing
• Unusual tattoos (such as names, symbols, or barcodes) or drastic changes in appearance
• Multiple STIs
• Poor personal hygiene or sudden appearance changes
• Substance use

• Fearful, anxious, or unusually quiet
• Doesn’t trust adults
• Becomes defensive when questioned

Some children and youth are trafficked through forced criminality, meaning they are made to commit crimes as a form of labor. This can include selling or transporting drugs, shoplifting, burglary, or financial fraud. Trafficking into sexual labor can also be a form of forced criminality, where young people are forced or coerced into commercial sex acts that are illegal under the law.

In both situations, traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to exert control, often threatening arrest, jail time, or deportation if the youth refuse. While these acts may appear to be criminal behavior, in reality these young people are victims – coerced into committing crimes for someone else’s benefit.

Traffickers sometimes pressure or manipulate children and youth into recruiting their peers. This can happen in schools, neighborhoods, or online spaces such as gaming platforms, apps, or social media. A child might be persuaded to introduce friends to someone who later exploits them, or pressured to bring in others as a way to avoid punishment or to gain basic needs like food or shelter. Because the recruitment comes from someone familiar, peers may be more likely to trust the situation, making this a powerful tactic traffickers exploit.

In some cases, gangs play a direct role in human trafficking, using intimidation or violence to recruit young people or keep them trapped in trafficking situations. For many youth, this combination of violence and gang involvement makes it even more dangerous to seek help or escape exploitation. As part of this control, gangs may also force youth to participate in crimes such as drug sales, theft, or carrying weapons, blurring the line between trafficking and gang activity. These dynamics can increase mistrust of authorities and make it harder for youth to be recognized as victims rather than offenders.

Because crimes like theft or drug sales are against the law, children and youth forced into these activities are often arrested and treated as offenders instead of being recognized as trafficking victims. This misidentification prevents them from receiving the protections and services they urgently need, such as safe housing, counseling, or legal advocacy. Instead of being supported as victims of exploitation, they may face punishment — which increases their risk of ongoing exploitation and harm, making it even harder for them to get help or rebuild their lives.

In many cases, youth carry criminal records into adulthood, further limiting their opportunities for stability and recovery. This problem often stems from a lack of training to recognize forced criminality as trafficking. By improving awareness and creating pathways that connect youth to support instead of punishment, LA County can ensure children are treated as victims of exploitation, not offenders.

Forced criminality and peer recruitment are often hidden or misunderstood aspects of trafficking. Without awareness, young people can be overlooked, mislabeled, or even punished when they should be protected. Recognizing these patterns helps law enforcement, schools, and communities identify victims earlier, provide appropriate services, and disrupt the tactics traffickers use to exploit children and youth. Addressing these forms of trafficking is essential to ensuring no young person falls through the cracks.

• Volunteer with local organizations supporting children, youth, and survivors
• Join a County working group or advisory committee on trafficking prevention
• Attend public hearings or City/County Board meetings to advocate for stronger protections
• Participate in awareness events like Human Trafficking Awareness Month (January)

• Support or volunteer with culturally specific organizations serving vulnerable communities, such as those working with immigrants, queer youth, foster youth, youth experiencing homelessness, system-involved youth, children with disabilities, and Indigenous youth.
• Coordinate with support networks to keep youth safe and connected

• Fund or mentor youth-led advocacy and awareness projects
• Promote survivor-led campaigns on social media and in your community
• Invite youth leaders, including survivors, to speak at schools, clubs, or community gatherings

• Attend free or low-cost training on recognizing and responding to trafficking
• Encourage your workplace, school, or community group to host training sessions
• Learn trauma-informed approaches to working with survivors

Access free resources to learn about child trafficking and share information in your community.

• Fact Sheets:
  • Child Trafficking in Los Angeles County
  • Child Trafficking in the Aftermath of Natural Disasters
  • Myths Vs. Realities
• Awareness Flyers
• Videos

Los Angeles County is one of the highest intensity child exploitation areas in the country. Human trafficking is happening everywhere in our communities and does not discriminate against ethnicity, gender, and age, nor does it take into consideration immigration or socioeconomic status. That’s why we’re excited to launch the “Know to Say No”, a campaign that empowers the community through education, awareness, and action. We want you to be informed about the recruitment methods used by exploiters to lure children into human trafficking and the signs that someone may be a victim. By understanding these warning signs, you can take action to help protect vulnerable children and youth in our community.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CAMPAIGN

• Department of Children and Family Services – DREAM (Child Trafficking Unit) – Provides specialized case management and support for children impacted by trafficking in LA County. DREAM & CSEC Resources hotline: 877-632-7234
• Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST LA) — Offers crisis shelter, legal advocacy, case management, and survivor support services. 24-hour hotline: 888-KEY-2-FREE / 888-539-2373
• Saving Innocence — Specializes in 24/7 crisis response, advocacy, and recovery services for children who have been commercially sexually exploited. (323) 379-4232

• CAST (24/7 hotline): 888-KEY-2-FREE / 888-539-2373
• National Human Trafficking Hotline (Available 24/7) — 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” to 233733 (BEFREE)

The Plan was developed by experts across multiple sectors in Los Angeles County, such as public health, child welfare, health services, probation, and mental health agencies, along a wide range of community-based organizations, parents, and youth. Over 80 youth and family members contributed their voices, insights, and expertise through listening sessions, helping to ensure the Plan is grounded in real-world needs and lived experiences—particularly those of young people directly impacted by trafficking. This collaborative effort was further supported by guidance provided from the Los Angeles County Child Trafficking Steering Committee, the National Center for Youth Law, the Preventing and Addressing Child Trafficking (PACT) Project, the Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) Action Team, and the Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative at Loyola Marymount University.

The Plan is centered on building protective factors at the individual, familial, and community level—recognizing that preventing child trafficking requires not only addressing risk but also strengthening the environments that keep children safe and supported.

The Strategic Plan takes a three-pronged approach to preventing and addressing child trafficking in Los Angeles County:

1. A Public Health and Community-Based Response
   The Plan moves away from relying solely on juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Instead, it takes a public health approach that addresses the root causes of trafficking (like poverty and systemic inequities), promotes community-based solutions, and brings people and organizations together around prevention and early intervention, while also acknowledging the realities of both commercial sexual exploitation and labor trafficking.This approach includes ongoing collaboration with law enforcement agencies to promote trauma-informed, youth-centered practices that prioritize safety, trust-building, and access to services over punitive responses. It also expands engagement with community-based organizations and school districts, ensuring that children and families at risk for trafficking are connected with resources and support, and that survivors and their families have pathways to healing and recovery from exploitation.

2. A Focus on Narrative Change
   The Plan is driven by the need to shift how human trafficking is understood and addressed by the public, service providers, and systems. It works to challenge harmful labels and assumptions about children and youth, and reduce stigma by recognizing that youth impacted by trafficking come from diverse backgrounds. With this in mind, the Plan encourages us to move beyond stereotypes and center youth voices in how we talk about trafficking and who receives support.

3. Grounded in Core Principles and Best Practices
   The Plan is built on values that ensure the response to trafficking is thoughtful, inclusive, and centered on healing. These guiding principles are reflected throughout the Plan’s goals and strategies:

• • Equity, Inclusion, and Intersectionality: Making sure all youth are treated fairly, and that support takes into account the different challenges they may face because of their race, gender, income, disability or other aspects of who they are.
  • Healthy Youth Development and Self-Determination: Supporting every young person’s right to thrive and to define their own path
  • Ethical and Authentic Youth and Lived-Experience Engagement: Involving youth and families in real and respectful ways, not just for show.
  • Trauma-Informed Care: Understanding how trauma affects people and creating safe, supportive spaces where they can heal.
  • Harm Reduction: Making space for youth to define what safety looks like for them and supporting safer options without judgment or punishment.
  • Intergenerational Approaches: Supporting not just youth, but their families and communities, to break cycles of harm and promote healing across generations.

Task Force Motion – 11/27/2012
Task Force Motion Amendment – 11/27/2012
Task Force Motion – 9/24/2013
Task Force: ILT Motion – 10/16/2015

Training for Foster Care Providers Motion – 3/25/2014
Training for Foster Care Providers Motion – 6/24/2014
Motel Hotel Training Education Motion – 3/3/2015
Motel Hotel Training Education Motion Amendment – 3/3/2015
Motel Hotel Training Education Motion Revision – 3/3/2015
Motel Hotel Training Education Revision Motion – 3/3/2015
Countywide CSEC Training Motion – 11/14/2017

Housing Solutions Motion – 3/10/2015
Housing Solutions Motion Revised – 5/12/2015
Housing Recovery Solutions Expansion Motion – 7/9/2019
Housing Solutions Research Motion Amendment – 7/9/2019

Safe Youth Zone Motion – 6/16/2015
Safe Youth Zone Motion – 5/10/2016
Safe Youth Zone Expansion Motion – 6/9/2020

Victim Witness Testimony Motion – 10/20/2015
Victim Witness Testimony SB 1276 Motion – 8/16/2016

SB 1193 Motion – 2/11/2014
Zero Tolerance Motion – 10/4/2016
Parent Services Motion (PEP) – 11/28/2017
Parent Services Motion (PEP) revised – 11/28/2017
First Responder Protocol Evaluation Motion – 11/13/2018