Today I am counseling a 17 year old girl who was exploited as a prostitute for the past four months.  She confirms for me yet again that the sex industry preys on our most vulnerable children.

Over the years I have represented many adolescents who used prostitution to survive.  Most were girls, but I have worked with some boys too.  It isn’t much of an existence.  They usually combine prostitution with drug dealing and use.  They can survive that way for only a short time before they are used up.

Sweden has a promising approach that has reduced prostitution by forty percent.  They arrest johns and offer exit services to prostitutes.

Here is Kansas City we are fortunate to host Veronica’s Voice .   That nonprofit agency provides services to victims of prostitution.  It is named after a 21 year old mother of three who was killed while trapped in the prostitution industry.

Just now I received a call from a police detective.  He wants to interview my 17 year old client today to see if they can find the man who trafficked her.   I gave him some information and offered to help his investigation.