Social Network Analysis of a Latino Sex Trafficking Enterprise

Author: Sabon, Lauren; Yang, Song & Zhang, Qingyang

Abstract: Despite the literature on the existence of networks in sex trafficking operations, few studies exist using social network analysis to analyze the crime. To help fill this gap, this study focuses on a criminal case of Latino immigrant sex trafficking. Highlights of our study include, first, sex trafficking networks tend to operate within cliques (and have dense connections within each clique but limited interactions between the cliques). Second, significant variations appear between sex trafficking victims and sex traffickers in their network connectivity and activities, which highlights the dynamic nature of sex trafficking enterprises. Finally, contrary to previous sex trafficking literature involving immigrant actors, biological ties between sex trafficking victims and romantic relations between sex trafficking victims and sex traffickers are not the underlying factors in the formation of their network connections. Thus, we call for more studies to shed light on such complex research topics.

Keywords: sex trafficking, Latinos, social network analysis, organized crime