Figure 1

These women need help to find their way out of sex trafficking. They have been manipulated by sex traffickers and are trying to find a way out. For example, Tamara Vandermoon (shown in Figure 1) was sucked into sex trafficking when she was only twelve years old. Now she is thirty-one years old and is starting on a new path. When she was involved in prostitution, she went through many forms of abuse and she used the money she made to support her drug habits, “to numb the pain.” To find out more about Tamara’s story as well as other stories click here. To locate places that help women, including an organization specific to Native American women, please click here.

                                          
                                    Video of a survivor who is now speaking out!

Sex trafficking is happening in many locations in or near the twin cities. The state of Minnesota is ranked the 13^th largest states for child prostitution in the United States according to an FBI investigation. The leading targets for sex trafficking are young girls, especially Native American girls. A police analysis of prostitution related arrests of American Indians in the years 2004-2008 shows that sex trafficking exists within Native American  women; although the numbers go up and down each year; the record of the four years was in 2004 when 112 people were charged for participating in prostitution, intent to be a prostitute, and promoting prostitution. It has fallen to a downward slope; in 2008 the number of arrests of Native American women fell to only 12. For more information on American Indian sex trafficking please click here.

The data in this chart shows that most of the victims are females that are 17-24 years old. The majority of the suspects are men that are 18-34 years old.

Minnesota is Tier One

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Where in Minnesota is sex trafficking occurring? It occurs all over the state, but the most densely populated area for sex trafficking is within the Twin Cities. Sex traffickers are most likely to look for girls in shopping malls such as the Mall of America, in night clubs and bars, and even schools and parks. Through manipulation, young girls are encouraged into an unhealthy environment of selling themselves for money, food, shelter, drugs, and alcohol.; unfortunately, the greatest percentage of Native American women  who participate in sex trafficking  sell themselves to earn  drugs, alcohol, and money.  (indianlaw.org.). To find more information on where sex trafficking occurs in Minnesota as well as shocking sex trafficking statistics, click here.