If you are a parent, a teacher, a social services worker, a law enforcement officer or simply a
friend of someone you suspect might be a victim of prostitution or other forms of commercial sexual
exploitation, there are warning signs. Usually a child victim of prostitution will exhibit one or more
of the behaviors. For more information about warning signs, visit the links below.
To get help for a child you believe is at-risk or already a victim of prostitution, please use the
web form in the contact us section of this web site and we will direct you to the appropriate support
organization. For an emergency that needs immediate assistance we recommend you call 911.
If you know of a child in the City of Atlanta who is being exploited for the purpose of prostitution or
indentured servitude, please call the Dear John/Human Trafficking Hotline at (404) 379-3602. Your call will
provide immediate “right now” help to the victim.
(click each for details)
Personal Indicators:
- Inappropriate dress, including oversized clothing or overtly sexy clothing
- Poor personal hygiene
- In possession of large amounts of money
- Rumors among students regarding sexual activity – which your child may not necessarily deny
- Angry, aggressive, clinically depressed, suicidal and/or tearful
- Diagnosed with sexually transmitted disease or diseases
- Older boyfriend or male friend or relative
- Older female friend
- Withdrawn, uncommunicative
Educational Factors:
- Not on grade level
- Special education student with personal indicators mentioned above
- Low functioning and/or developmentally delayed with personal indicators mentioned above
- Behavior issues in school
- Truancy and/or chronic absenteeism
- Sleeping in class
Family Factors:
- Runaway or throwaway child
- Lack of adult supervision
- Lack of adult support
- Sexual abuse at home, by family member or friend
- History with the Department of Family and Children Services
- Parental substance abuse
- Domestic violence
- Living, hanging out in geographic areas known to be a gathering place for prostitution
Legal Issues:
- In the Juvenile Court system, probably on repeated status offenses
- Fake identification and or fake dance permits
- Substance abuse
- Has a history of recruiting others into prostitution
- The arrest of the child is in or around an area known for prostitution, such as an adult entertainment venue, strip club, massage parlor, X-rated video shop and/or hotel