This article reports on a study that used longitudinal, statewide, linked administrative data from Florida to determine predictors of juvenile justice involvement after a human trafficking allegation; the article describes the study’s methodology as well as the results that identify several predictors of JJ involvement following a HT allegation.
This study examines human trafficking (HT) allegations and subsequent juvenile justice (JJ) involvement. The authors used longitudinal, statewide, linked administrative data from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to investigate predictors of JJ involvement following an HT allegation. They conducted (1) logistic regression models to identify youth characteristics, prior DCF experiences, and prior DJJ experiences that predict JJ referral following an HT allegation and (2) a survival analysis to identify time until JJ referral following an HT allegation. Significant predictors of JJ involvement following an HT allegation include being age 11–17, male, Black, and non-Hispanic; prior neglect, physical abuse, missing-child events, and a number of JJ referrals prior to the alleged trafficking. This research informs the JJ system’s approach to child trafficking victimization. (Published Abstract Provided)