California Report Card

California scored a D in the 2021 Shared Hope International Report cards.

The Project

Since 2011, Shared Hope has laid the foundation for transformational policy, practice, and cultural change by supporting state legislators and stakeholders to enact the minimum fabric of laws needed to address child sex trafficking. The Report Cards on Child & Youth Sex Trafficking build upon the last decade of progress, challenging states to take the next step in the fight against sex trafficking by focusing on the area where the largest gaps remain—victim protections. These materials provide an in-depth analysis of current laws and include recommendations to strengthen those laws.

California Report Card Issue Highlights

California Criminal Provisions

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to buyer and trafficker accountability under state CSEC laws and decoy defenses. Gaps remain in areas related to buyer accountability under the trafficking law, mistake of age defenses, business entity liability under the trafficking law, and financial penalties.

California Identification of and Response to Victims

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to foreign national victims, non-criminalization for prostitution offenses, and child abuse definitions. Gaps remain in areas related to third party control, screening through child welfare and the juvenile justice system, expanded non-criminalization, juvenile court jurisdiction, and non-familial trafficking cases.

California Continuum of Care

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to appropriations. Gaps remain in areas related to services through a non-punitive system, MDT responses, services through the juvenile justice system, and extended foster care services.

Access to Justice for Trafficking survivors in California

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to restitution and civil remedies. Gaps remain in areas related to civil orders of protection, crime victims’ compensation, vacatur, and statutes of limitation.

Tools for a Victim-Centered Criminal Justice response in California

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to victim supports and privileged communications. Gaps remain in areas related to hearsay exceptions and alternatives to live, in-court testimony.

Prevention and Training in California

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to training for child welfare and juvenile justice agencies as well as prevention education in schools. Gaps remain in areas related to training for law enforcement, prosecutors, and school personnel.

Supporting Youth (18+) in California

Protections related to civil remedies and privileged communications are extended to sex trafficked youth.

Laws regarding Child Labor Trafficking in California

Protections related to restitution, civil remedies, and privileged communications are extended to child labor trafficking victims.

California Download Library

Shared Hope International continues to deploy new law review, grading, and analysis packages from November 2021 through February 2022.

California Law Analysis Report

State Ratings under the Protected Innocence Challenge (previous framework 2011-2019) can be found here.

Download the Complete Toolkit

Get each state’s report card and analysis conveniently packaged in our 2022 Report Cards Toolkit. Download the Full Toolkit (20MB)

Legislative Technical Assistance

For legislators and partner non-profits that assist elected officials in creating legislation, request a consultation with our Policy Team. We will set up a meeting to discuss your legislative goals and create a customized goal for ongoing technical assistance, bill drafting services, and legislative support.
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