Warning Signs

If you are a parent, a teacher, a social services worker, a law enforcement officer or simply a friend of someone you suspect might be a victim of prostitution or other forms of commercial sexual exploitation, there are warning signs. Usually a child victim of commercial sexual exploitation will exhibit one or more of certain behaviors listed below.

To get help for a child you believe is at-risk or already a victim of prostitution, please contact the Georgia Care Connection at 404.602.0068. Your call will provide immediate “right now” help to the victim and family. For an emergency that needs immediate assistance we recommend you call 911.

Personal Indicators:

  • Inappropriate dress, including oversized clothing or overtly sexy clothing
  • Poor personal hygiene
  • In possession of large amounts of money
  • Rumors among students regarding sexual activity – which your child may not necessarily deny
  • Angry, aggressive, clinically depressed, suicidal and/or tearful
  • Diagnosed with sexually transmitted disease or diseases
  • Older boyfriend or male friend or relative
  • Older female friend
  • Withdrawn, uncommunicative

Educational Factors:

  • Not on grade level
  • Special education student with personal indicators mentioned above
  • Low functioning and/or developmentally delayed with personal indicators mentioned above
  • Behavior issues in school
  • Truancy and/or chronic absenteeism
  • Sleeping in class

Family Factors:

  • Runaway or throwaway child
  • Lack of adult supervision
  • Lack of adult support
  • Sexual abuse at home, by family member or friend
  • History with the Department of Family and Children Services
  • Parental substance abuse
  • Domestic violence
  • Living, hanging out in geographic areas known to be a gathering place for prostitution

Legal Issues:

  • In the Juvenile Court system, probably on repeated status offenses
  • Fake identification and or fake dance permits
  • Substance abuse
  • Has a history of recruiting others into prostitution
  • The arrest of the child is in or around an area known for prostitution, such as an adult entertainment venue, strip club, massage parlor, X-rated video shop and/or hotel