FORCED CRIMINALITY

YOUTH AND FORCED CRIMINALITY

Often, we think of the trafficking of youth through commercial sexual exploitation, and that continues to be the primary focus of many support services. What is less recognized is that youth may also be trafficked for their labor—in homes, businesses, or other workplaces—and are rarely identified as victims. Taking this understanding a step further, there are also youth who are forced or coerced to commit crimes as a form of labor trafficking. In these situations, traffickers exploit young people through threats, violence, debt, or manipulation, compelling them to engage in illegal acts such as drug sales, theft, or fraud for the trafficker’s benefit. Because these youth are encountered within the criminal justice system, their victimization is often overlooked, and they are treated as offenders rather than survivors of exploitation. Recognizing forced criminality as a form of labor trafficking is essential to ensuring these young people are identified, protected, and connected to trauma-informed care and supportive services, rather than being punished for their own exploitation.

Ensuring Equal Protections for All Trafficked Youth

SJI is advocating for Los Angeles County to recognize and respond to youth trafficked by forced criminality with the same commitment and infrastructure used to support Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC). Since 2012, Los Angeles County has built a strong framework for CSEC that includes specialized training, safe housing, youth-centered zones, and coordinated cross-agency task forces.

SJI believes the County must expand this framework to include all youth who are labor trafficked, including those coerced to commit crimes by their traffickers. It ensures youth are seen, supported, and safely guided to services, rather than punished for their exploitation.

CALIFORNIA EFFORTS

Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Labor Trafficking

Just as Los Angeles County is working to ensure youth trafficked by forced criminality are recognized and supported, statewide change is also needed to close the gaps that leave many labor-trafficked children invisible. Across California, reports of child labor trafficking are rising, yet the child welfare system still recognizes only sex trafficking as a form of child abuse. As a result, youth who are labor trafficked—including those coerced into criminal activity—are rarely screened or identified as victims, resulting in missed opportunities to connect them with safety and care.

SJI is supporting statewide legislation that would update California’s definition of child abuse to include labor trafficking. This change would extend the same protections currently afforded to commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC) to all trafficked youth, ensuring they are identified early, connected to trauma-informed services, and no longer overlooked within the systems meant to keep them safe. Strengthening state policy is essential to ensuring that every trafficked child—regardless of how they were exploited—receives the support and recognition they deserve.

Legislative Proposal

Read More About the Proposal: Preventing & Protecting Children who are Vulnerable to Labor Trafficking

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