The utility of trauma evaluations in judicial decision‐making in child sex trafficking cases: A qualitative analysis.

Youth coerced into trafficking experience multiple forms of abuse, and are deprived of basic human rights associated with liberty and self‐determination, all of which can adversely affect mental and psychological well‐being (Ottisova et al., Behavioral Medicine, 44(3), 234‐241.). This study uses a qualitative approach to exploring how judges use trauma‐related information to make decisions about how to adjudicate cases involving minors who have been sexually trafficked. Additionally, the study identifies barriers to receiving data, the court resources needed to effectively respond, and potential remedies to address gaps in effective case management. The study uses data from 82 juvenile and family court judges from around the USA 27‐item structured interview was used to determine the availability and utility of trauma services, needed resources, and solutions to overcome gaps in effective case adjudication. Themes emerged related to lack of access to and timing issues that limited the utility of reports, lack of congruency between recommendations and available resources and child and family resistance to disclosures. Solutions to overcome barriers are related to increased cross‐disciplinary collaboration, awareness and responsiveness. Legal remedies such as Safe Harbor laws can only be realized if the systemic context is aligned and appropriately resourced toward responsiveness. Key points for the family court community: Safe harbor laws have shifted the criminal justice response to child sex trafficking cases away from punishment to rehabilitation, putting judges on the front‐line of identifying needs and directing and ordering appropriate treatment services.Legal remedies can only be realized if the systemic context is aligned and appropriately resourced toward responsiveness.Cross‐system collaboration has utility with youth involved in sex trafficking who need to interface with different courts and multiple child serving systems of care (e.g., child welfare, the courts, juvenile justice programs, etc...).Guardian ad litems and/or specialized court dockets could be the conduits for ensuring a trauma‐informed approach is applied to CSEC casesEducation on addressing child sex trafficking needs to occur further upstream during undergraduate, graduate or legal education and/or be mandated as part of required professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]