Sex trafficking is the business of forcing victims to provide sex for profit — a form of modern-day slavery that is vicious, pervasive and which has proved extremely challenging to eradicate.
An estimated 4.8 million people around the world are trapped in forced sex exploitation. There is no official estimate of the total number of human trafficking victims in the U.S. but there are approximately 300,000 in Texas alone, of which nearly 79,000 are minor victims of youth sex trafficking.
A new FRONTLINE documentary shines a light on the hidden reality of sex trafficking in America by telling the unimaginable stories of young women coerced into prostitution. The film also gives an inside look at the billion-dollar trafficking industry and how law enforcement agencies are fighting back.
Guests:
- Jezza Neumann, producer of the FRONTLINE documentary "Sex Trafficking in America"
- Detective Heidi Chance, Phoenix Police Department
- Chuck Paul, domestic minor sex trafficking consultant and outreach specialist for Roy Maas Youth Alternatives
"The Source" is a live call-in program airing Mondays through Thursdays from 12-1 p.m. Leave a message before the program at (210) 615-8982. During the live show, call 210-614-8980, email thesource@tpr.org or tweet at @TPRSource.
*This interview was recorded on Tuesday, May 28.
