Florida Report Card

Florida scored a B in the 2022 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.

Florida Report Card Issue Highlights

Florida Criminal Provisions

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

Florida Identification of and Response to Victims

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

Florida Continuum of Care

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to MDT responses, services through child welfare and the juvenile justice system, and appropriations. Gaps remain in areas related to community-based services and extended foster care services.

Access to Justice for Trafficking survivors in Florida

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

Tools for a Victim-Centered Criminal Justice response in Florida

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

Prevention and Training in Florida

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

Supporting Youth (18+) in Florida

Protection related to privileged communications is extended to sex trafficked youth.

Laws regarding Child Labor Trafficking in Florida

Protections related to restitution, alternatives to live, in-court testimony, and privileged communications are extended to child labor trafficking victims.

Florida Download Library

Shared Hope International continues to deploy new law review, grading, and analysis packages from November 2022 through February 2023.

2021: Report Card | Law Analysis
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.
Request Assistance