Local Context
When it comes to problems within the city, Chicago is easily identified as being politically corruput. "In 2005, the FBI designated Chicago as one of thirteen locations of 'High Intensity Child Prostitution’ "(Tanagho 2006). What many people do not realize is that Chicago has a big trafficking problem. Kathe M. Hoffer has stated in "A Response to Sex Trafficking Chicago Style: Follow the Sisters, Speak Out" (2010) that : "(1) around 16,000 girls and women are regularly involved in prostitution each year in Chicago;(2) most are first purchased for sex before they turn eighteen; (3) significant numbers are first pimped out (frequently by a family member) before their fifteenth birthday..." As stated before, abductions are a common form of obtaining children within the United States. In 2011, the Vice Lords along with other gangs in the South and West sides of Chicago were caught running a trafficking ring, in which "Some of the victims were as young as 12 when they were recruited to work as prostitutes" ( Hussein and Dudek 2011). One of these victims was a girl who was abducted while she was on a CTA train (Hussein) and Dudek 2011).
Such instances resulted in then Illinois mayor, Rod Blagojevich, signing the state's first anti-trafficking law (Tanagho 2006). The Trafficking of Persons and Involuntary Servitude Act, as it is called, "provides for five different felony levels depending on the nature of the trafficking crime and the age of the trafficking victim," (Tanagho 2006). Although the signing of these types of laws might reduce the chances of Illinois trafficking, this specific law is not as enforced compared
to national laws. According to "New Illinois legislation combats modern-day slavery: A comparative analysis of Illinois anti-trafficking law with its federal and state counterparts," "...someone convicted under the TVPA of sex trafficking of an adult by force, fraud, or coercion can receive a life sentence while someone similarly convicted under the Illinois Trafficking Law can only get up to fifteen years," (Tanagho 2006).
Therefore, girls in Chicago are being targeted without people realizing what is actually happening. There are always stories on shootings and other crimes on the Chicago news, however, people do not realize that those stories might also be tied to child trafficking. The trauma that exploited children go through is too excruciating, and that trauma has severe repercussions. The Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE) does a good job at trying to educate Chicago
youth on what exploitation looks like in order to prevent it, rather than letting traffickers get into the youth’s lives. Many pimps start off at a young age as well due to financial need, but eventually they too become entrapped in to world of trafficking, and those pimps end up liking what they are doing. Furthermore, those pimps will want to expand the power they think they have. Therefore, more programs like CAASE do well in addressing the topic of sexual exploitation to both young girls and young boys. These types of programs might be more effective than others since girls should not be taught things along the lines of how not to dress in order to cause negative male attention, while boys are not taught anything; boys should also be taught not to be sexually exploitative towards females. However, that is not to say that men are the only ones who traffick children. Furthermore, sexual exploitation does not always involve trafficking. Therefore, children in Chicago that are not necessarily trafficked will also benefit from programs like CAASE, because many children are constantly exploited under different situations.
Such instances resulted in then Illinois mayor, Rod Blagojevich, signing the state's first anti-trafficking law (Tanagho 2006). The Trafficking of Persons and Involuntary Servitude Act, as it is called, "provides for five different felony levels depending on the nature of the trafficking crime and the age of the trafficking victim," (Tanagho 2006). Although the signing of these types of laws might reduce the chances of Illinois trafficking, this specific law is not as enforced compared
to national laws. According to "New Illinois legislation combats modern-day slavery: A comparative analysis of Illinois anti-trafficking law with its federal and state counterparts," "...someone convicted under the TVPA of sex trafficking of an adult by force, fraud, or coercion can receive a life sentence while someone similarly convicted under the Illinois Trafficking Law can only get up to fifteen years," (Tanagho 2006).
Therefore, girls in Chicago are being targeted without people realizing what is actually happening. There are always stories on shootings and other crimes on the Chicago news, however, people do not realize that those stories might also be tied to child trafficking. The trauma that exploited children go through is too excruciating, and that trauma has severe repercussions. The Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE) does a good job at trying to educate Chicago
youth on what exploitation looks like in order to prevent it, rather than letting traffickers get into the youth’s lives. Many pimps start off at a young age as well due to financial need, but eventually they too become entrapped in to world of trafficking, and those pimps end up liking what they are doing. Furthermore, those pimps will want to expand the power they think they have. Therefore, more programs like CAASE do well in addressing the topic of sexual exploitation to both young girls and young boys. These types of programs might be more effective than others since girls should not be taught things along the lines of how not to dress in order to cause negative male attention, while boys are not taught anything; boys should also be taught not to be sexually exploitative towards females. However, that is not to say that men are the only ones who traffick children. Furthermore, sexual exploitation does not always involve trafficking. Therefore, children in Chicago that are not necessarily trafficked will also benefit from programs like CAASE, because many children are constantly exploited under different situations.