Legislation to Protect Exploited Teens

Over the past several years, several young women have come forward with accounts of being sexually exploited by an older man and have shed light on an often hidden form of child sexual exploitation that occurs when teenagers are coerced into posting explicit photos online.

NCMEC and its partners’ efforts are so crucial for preventing violent crimes like that of Emily’s disappearance; and why HB 2281 introduced in January prior to Emily’s disappearance deserves support today.

The bill would create an alert system similar to state Amber and Silver Alerts for missing Indigenous and endangered adults, that is activated when law enforcement exhausts local resources and determines that an adult missing meets specific criteria – such as being at least 18 years old, believed in imminent danger and hasn’t been located within 72 hours – trigger it.

Exploited Teens

It should be treated as urgently when any teen goes missing, yet often that doesn’t happen.

NCMEC has long advocated for a national law to improve how missing children, especially those experiencing exploitation, are reported missing.

Running away is an all too familiar risky behavior among youth who have experienced commercial exploitation, so as part of treatment therapists often focus on strategies to lessen danger during runaway episodes (e.g. teaching youth to memorize safe phone numbers and practice calling home).