In cooperation with law enforcement agencies throughout North Texas
and our generous Partners, 4theONE has assisted in
364 recoveries of missing minors
including
199 recoveries of victims of sex trafficking and exploitation
2015 – 2023
Please support our efforts to help recover Texas youth before they are further victimized.
DONATE NOW
We work with families and law enforcement to recover missing youth.
The longer a young person is missing, the more vulnerable they are to becoming victims of child sex trafficking and other forms of human trafficking. Local law enforcement often lacks the manpower to aggressively search for each missing youth.
We come alongside families, government agencies and law enforcement to assist in locating and recovering young people who are reported as runaways, missing or suspected trafficking victims. Our team of skilled professionals includes licensed private investigators and specially trained volunteers with backgrounds in law enforcement, cyber forensics, education, social services, mental health, and medical fields.
Common factors related to runaway behavior…
— older youth (14-17) are more likely to run than younger
— youth more often run from congregate care type facilities like RTCs than from foster or kinship homes
— youth with alcohol and other substance abuse problems are more likely to run
— the likelihood that a youth who has run will run again is relatively high, particularly during the period immediately after return to care
Crosland & Glen Dunlap – 2015 survey of research
Human Trafficking defined…
— labor trafficking: when an individual performs labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion
— sex trafficking: when an individual of any age performs sex acts through the use of force, fraud, or coercion in exchange for compensation
— child sex trafficking: when an individual under 18 years of age performs sex acts in exchange for compensation
— does not require use of force, fraud, or coercion
— a minor (anyone under 18 yrs old) cannot legally consent to a commercial sex act
— customers (those who pay for sex) with a minor may be charged with sex trafficking of a minor regardless of whether or not they knew the trafficking victim’s age
Sex Trafficking…
— Sex trafficking is the fastest growing business of organized crime, and the third-largest criminal enterprise in the world.
— Child victims are a particular concern. The average age at which girls first become victims of prostitution is 12 to 14, according to several studies.
— Traffickers are increasingly active on social media, which they use to target victims and advertise to customers.
Child Sex Trafficking impacts…
— girls — any race
— boys — any economic level
— lgbtq — any education level
However, CST disproportionately impacts those that are young, financially poor, youth of color, girls, immigrant, and/or LGBTQ.
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)