San Antonio-- Research released by Shared Hope International reveals more than 50% of the nation's states do not have laws that provide protection and justice to child victims of domestic minor sex trafficking.
Shared Hope International was founded in 1998 by former U.S. Congresswoman Linda Smith, and exists to rescue and restore women and children in crisis. Smith said more work needs to be done when it comes to protecting children from predators.
"Each state's laws show omissions in protective provisions for child victims, and lack strong laws to prosecute the men who rent the bodies of other men's children," said Linda Smith, Founder and President of Shared Hope International. "Early in our research it was clear that responses to child sex trafficking must originate at the state level. The Protected Innocence Initiative establishes the essential legislative framework that attempts to harmonize the state's response to the treatment of prostituted children and emphasize the appropriate prosecution of the buyer."
Only 10 states received grades higher than a "C". Four states including Texas, Illinois, Missouri and Washington led the nations with "B" grades. Forty-one states received grades of "D" or lower, including 26 failing grades.
Shared Hope International said it reviewed each state's existing laws based on six areas of law critical to protecting children and responding to minor sex trafficking.
For more information go to www.sharedhope.org and www.doyouknowlacy.com
