Sex trafficking occurs when a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud or coercion if the victim is 18 years of age or older. Any minor who performs a commercial sex act is federally defined as a victim of sex trafficking, regardless of the use of force, fraud or coercion. The term "commercial sex act" is the giving or receiving of anything of value (money, drugs, shelter, food, clothes, etc.) to any person in exchange for a sex act.

The Juvenile Justice Services Division recognizes that juveniles are at risk of or are sex trafficked in all Arizona counties. JJSD participates in efforts to combat sex trafficking in Arizona through involvement in the Arizona Human Trafficking Council and other working groups. JJSD supports juvenile probation departments by providing trainings, webinars and access to resource information as well as in the probation departments' identification of minor victims of sex trafficking (MVST), collaboration with multi-system stakeholders, and referrals to community providers.

Collaborations

The Arizona Human Trafficking Council: JJSD serves on the Arizona Human Trafficking Council (AHTC) which is organized as an initiative by the Governor and directly supported by the Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family (GOYFF). The AHTC was established to develop a comprehensive and coordinated victims' service plan; evaluate and report to the governor statewide data on human trafficking; promote greater collaboration with law enforcement, state agencies and the community-at-large; and raise public awareness about victim's services, restitution and prevention.

Arizona State University (ASU) School of Social Work, Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research: JJSD collaborates with ASU STIR on staff and stakeholder education and training activities.

Internal Projects 2015 to Current

  • JJSD trained 550 probation officers and associated stakeholders through a series of regional workshops under a grant from the Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family.
  • JJSD surveyed the probation population to identify the prevalence of minor victims of sex trafficking within the caseloads of juvenile probation officers.
  • JJSD identified 15 County Sex Trafficking Specialists (1 per county) who are trained to serve as the county's liaison between their community and probation department and county probation and JJSD.
  • JJSD has produced an informational training brochure and a computer-based online training video.
  • JJSD participated as a member of the Governor's Collaborative Workgroup that developed The Arizona Guidelines for Developing a Regional Response to Youth Sex Trafficking that was published and released statewide.
  • JJSD staff presented a training seminar at the 2016 Arizona Courts Conference.
  • JJSD provided training to probation staff, contractors and stakeholders on adverse childhood experiences and trauma through a series of regional workshops funded through a grant from the GOYFF. 
  • JJSD has funded staff and probation representatives to attend Shared Hope International's JuST national and regional conferences.
  • JJSD facilitates quarterly meetings and webinars to probation Sex Trafficking Specialists that include identification of evidence-based practices for MVST and current local, state, and national sex trafficking trends and research.
  • Awareness building & training on MVST is provided for juvenile court and probation services.
  • JJSD participates in the Collaborative Model Statewide Expansion Working Group.
  • JJSD contracts for trauma-informed services, delivered by qualified individuals that may encompass services to juvenile victims of sex trafficking.
  • JJSD identifies & develops resources and services for MVST in juvenile court and probation on an on-going basis.
  • Ongoing training and professional development provided for all stakeholders.

RESOURCES

Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family
ASU-STIR
Shared Hope International