In Florida, youth escaping sex trafficking are still frequently jailed. A new report from the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center finds that about one in three commercially sexually exploited minors in the state are placed in secure detention within a year of being officially identified as victims, despite Florida’s Safe Harbor protections. The center is hosting a town hall in Jacksonville tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the Jessie Ball duPont Center to review the findings and advocate for reforms.
Study Spotlight: Victims Pushed Into The Justice System
The Policy Center’s research brief, See the Girl: Trafficked Behind Closed Doors, draws on Open Doors casework and statewide trend data to show how often survivors are arrested and detained. Florida’s state watchdog, OPPAGA, reported in its 2024 annual review that roughly one-third of verified commercially sexually exploited youth were placed in secure detention within a year, with many having repeated juvenile-justice involvement. The Policy Center’s intake data also show that 52% of Open Doors clients had been arrested and 45% had experienced secure detention.
How Safe Harbor Falls Short
The brief contends that inconsistent screening, limited placement options, and weak oversight contribute to the continued criminalization of minors, even though state law is intended to direct them toward services rather than detention. The report notes that diversion is allowed but not required, and combined with a shortage of safe-house beds and treatment slots, this helps explain why many young survivors still end up in custody. A statewide analysis from the University of South Florida’s TIP Lab highlights both the scope of the need across Florida and the strain on available services.
Local Reaction And Tonight's Town Hall
Advocates and survivors say the data reflect what they have witnessed for years: repeated failures to recognize coercion and to direct young people to care rather than detention. Tonight’s town hall is free, open to the public, and begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Jessie Ball duPont Center.
What Advocates Want
Both the Policy Center and OPPAGA emphasize a targeted set of reforms: improve screening tools so frontline workers can better identify coercion, establish independent oversight of Safe Harbor implementation, expand specialized placement options, and fund survivor-led, trauma-informed services. OPPAGA’s annual report specifically calls for increasing placement capacity, improving data collection, and tracking outcomes to reduce involvement in the justice system.
What The Law Says
Florida’s Safe Harbor framework is intended to treat minors involved in commercial sex as victims, directing them toward the dependency system and supportive services instead of the delinquency system. However, the law does not guarantee diversion in every case. The statutory framework and OPPAGA’s mandate to produce annual reviews of commercial sexual exploitation are outlined in Florida statute, Chapter 409.
