Sex trafficking is more often about preying on victims' vulnerabilities, not physical force. But jurors’ misconceptions can make it harder to convict. BarbMcQuade writes
Two of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged victims, Michelle Licata and Courtney Wild, exit the courthouse after a hearing on July 8, 2019 in New York City. Photo: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images For prosecutors handling sex-trafficking cases around the country, the charges against Jeffrey Epstein are a welcome relief.
The charges were especially welcome in light of reports that former Miami U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta, now the U.S. Secretary of Labor, had let Epstein off easy in 2007 with a lenient plea deal, and then failed to notify the victims as required by law. When jurors hear “sex trafficking,” they conjure up images of victims bound by chains, subjected to physical force and imprisonment. While some cases include those aggravating facts, more often, the victim instead chooses to stay with her assailant, who preys upon a vulnerability. Defendants recruit victims in a variety of ways and then force them to engage in sex acts with them or with paying customers.
A high-profile case like Epstein’s provides a teachable moment for American jurors. The indictment notes that some of his victims returned to his home to perform sex acts for money, even after they knew full well what was in store for them. The indictment also notes that the victims were “for various reasons, particularly vulnerable to exploitation.” That is the secret sauce of sex trafficking.
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