Why Aren’t More Family Traffickers Convicted?

While the statistics above depict child sexual abuse alone, familial trafficking is even more difficult for law enforcement to hold offenders accountable. Primarily due to the effects of the intense abuse endured by the victim starting at a very young age, these victims have difficulty coming forward until sometimes decades after the events have occurred, making it difficult for law enforcement to procure witness testimony and evidence. These victims are typically entangled, stalked, and threatened by the trafficking parent well into adulthood, making it extremely challenging to report, let alone self-identify as victims and make sense of their own experiences. Disclosing the abuse risks the breakdown of relationships with siblings and the enabling parent. In addition, society tends to paint individuals who are not in contact with family members in a bad light or not “family oriented.” This begs the question - is it worth coming forward when the odds of the perpetrator being held accountable are less than 3%?