Child Sex Trafficking in Texas

• Texas has the second most reports of sex trafficking cases in the US. — Polaris Project

• An estimated 79,000 young adults and minors have been sex trafficked in Texas. — The University of Texas, Human Trafficking By The Numbers (2016)

• Houston is the worst city in the country, with the highest number of reported child sex trafficking cases. — Polaris Project

• Prior to the opening of The Refuge Ranch, Texas only had 24 beds available for child survivors’ long-term recovery from trauma. — The Refuge for DMST / Texas Governor’s Office

• Young survivors of sex trafficking who only received “low level” limited, short-term assistance and services were more likely to be re-victimized at a 34% rate, compared to a 5-7% rate for those who had long-term, “high level” care. — The University of Texas, 2019 Report

Child Sex Trafficking in the US

• The average age a girl is lured or forced into sex trafficking is just 15 years old. — National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)

• 83% of victims in confirmed sex-trafficking incidents were identified as U.S. citizens. — US Justice Department

• Online forms of sex trafficking increased by more than 45% during the COVID-19 pandemic. — Polaris Project

  • Online forms of sex trafficking are more likely to involve minors (55% vs 24%) and males (15% vs 7%) and are less likely to be reported by someone with direct knowledge of the situation (50% vs 70%), according to 2 years worth of data from Polaris-operated National Human Trafficking Hotline Number.

• There was an 846% increase in reported child sex trafficking cases from 2010 to 2015. — National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

• There are less than 600 beds available nationwide for child sex trafficking survivors’ long-term recovery from trauma. — US Justice Department & TEGNA Stations research

• There are less than 600 beds available nationwide for child sex trafficking survivors, but we have over 13,000 animal shelters. — The Humane Society / US Justice Department

• In 2020, of the nearly 26,500 missing children reported to NCMEC who have run away, 1 in 6 were likely victims of child sex trafficking. — National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

• 16% of the children who ran from the care of social services and were reported missing to NCMEC in 2019, were likely victims of child sex trafficking. — National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

• 27% of sex trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline number were instances of familial trafficking. — Polaris Project, 2018 Fact Sheet

• In a 2018 survey of child sex trafficking victims, 55% of respondents reported being in school while they were being trafficked. — Thorn, Survivor Insights

• In the same 2018 survey, 45% of respondents identified as Black or African American. — Thorn, Survivor Insights

• 40% of confirmed sex trafficking victims from 2008-2010 were Black or African American. — US Justice Department, 2011 Report

Child Sex Trafficking Globally

• Child sex trafficking is the fastest-growing crime in the world. — United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

• It was estimated in 2014 that sex traffickers raked in about $99 billion a year in profits. — International Labour Organization

• About 21 million people are victims of forced labor and 4.5 million are trapped in the commercial sex trade. An estimated 900,000 to 1.2 million of those victims of commercial sexual exploitation are children. — International Labour Organization