Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Placement Options for CSE Victims Have Increased; CSE-Specific Services Remain Limited

Report 19-05, July 2019

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Report Summary

  • In 2018, 400 children were verified as victims of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) in Florida. This number has increased each year of our reporting, ranging from 264 victims verified in 2015 to 381 in 2017.
  • The number of safe house and safe foster home beds has increased in the past year. Despite the increase, there are still a limited number of safe houses in the state and a small percentage of verified CSE victims are placed in them. New home operators reported several challenges to developing and operating safe houses, including funding, complying with local building regulations, and difficulty in finding information on safe house licensing and certification requirements.
  • CSE-specific services in Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) facilities are limited. DJJ staff reported that the department does not independently provide CSE-specific services for CSE victims while they are in DJJ detention centers or residential programs. For children with a known history of CSE and an existing CSE-specific treatment provider, DJJ arranges communication between the child's treatment teams.
  • As in prior reports, CSE victims do not fare well in a variety of short-term social outcomes. Victims identified in our prior reports have high rates of subsequent Department of Children and Families and DJJ involvement and low performance in K-12 schools. A case file review of victims with subsequent CSE verifications found similar outcomes as well as a high prevalence of behavioral health issues and extensive histories with the child welfare system.

Related Reports
  1. Annual Report on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Minors, 2024
    Report 24-04 July 2024
  2. Annual Report on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Florida, 2023
    Report 23-08 June 2023
  3. Annual Report on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Florida, 2022
    Report 22-05 July 2022
  4. Annual Report on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Florida, 2021
    Report 21-06 July 2021
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
commercial sexual exploitation, human trafficking, safe house, abuse hotline, arrests, revictimization, placement, runaway, foster care, residential treatment, mental health, substance abuse