In December 2011, Shared Hope International released a Protected Innocence Challenge Report Card for every state grading the framework of laws addressing the crime of domestic minor sex trafficking and the protections afforded to its victims. Not a single state earned an A. In fact, over half received failing grades. The question was posed: since not one state received an A, why don’t you grade on a curve system? Read on to learn about our zero tolerance policy standards for domestic minor sex trafficking, policy developments since the PII release, and why Shared Hope does not grade on a curve.

During the past year, Shared Hope International has dedicated most of its resources to a daring initiative that promises to change the legal landscape addressing sex trafficking of American children, called the Protected Innocence Initiative. On December 1, 2011, Shared Hope International released this groundbreaking research in the first-ever Protected Innocence Challenge.  Shared Hope also hosted a series of events last week including the Pathbreaker Award Reception to award Attorneys General for their leadership on the issue, a press conference at which the report was officially released to the public, and an executive briefing to discuss the findings of the report.

Children exploited in the commercial sex industry may be misidentified and arrested and prosecuted as criminals for crimes to which they cannot legally consent. Read on to learn how Shared Hope International’s Protected Innocence Initiative will work to address protective provisions for child victims.