End Prostitution Arrests For Child Survivors

Did you know 19 states can still arrest and charge child survivors of sex trafficking with the crime of prostitution?

Child sex trafficking is the only form of abuse where the victim can go to jail for the very crime committed against them. And tragically, Texas is one of those states that still charge children with prostitution.

“Children are not prostitutes—point blank, period. Any child who is being sexually exploited by an adult (for a fee or otherwise) should be protected from the adult perpetrator.”

— Rep. Shawn Thierry

Support HB 162

If passed, Representative Thierry’s House Bill 162 will put an end to prostitution arrests for children in the state of Texas and will ensure that law enforcement must return the child to their parent, a local service provider, or place them in the care of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

The Refuge joined advocates and survivors to testify in support of HB 162.

How to Help

You can help advocate for HB 162 by contacting the State Representatives on the Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee and let them know of your support. Utilize the sample email and contact list below!

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Dear Representative,

I'm writing today to respectfully request that you vote in support of CSHB 162 and for the protection of child sexual assault victims. I believe that it is the moral responsibility of the Texas Legislature to support these vulnerable children and to protect them from conviction of a crime that they cannot consent to. Children are not prostitutes. Trafficked children are victims, not perpetrators and to treat them as such is an egregious miscarriage of justice—it places the blame on the victim instead of the trafficker. We must protect our children from exploitation and CSHB 162 does just that. It rescues child sexual abuse victims and provides essential intervention and support.

I thank you for your work, and again ask that you stand in support of protecting our vulnerable children. Please vote CSHB 162 favorably out of committee!

Thank you,
[your name]

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Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee Members:

1. Chairwoman Victoria Neave Victoria.Neave@house.texas.gov
   Office Phone: (512) 463-0244

2. Vice Chair Valoree Swanson Valoree.Swanson@house.texas.gov
   Office Phone: (512) 463-0572

3. Representative David Cook David.Cook@house.texas.gov
   Office Phone: (512) 463-0374

4. Representative James Frank James.Frank@house.texas.gov
   Office Phone: (512) 463-0534

5. Representative Jeff Leach Jeff.Leach@house.texas.gov
   Office Phone: (512) 463-0544

6. Representative Ana-Maria Ramos Ana-Maria.Ramos@house.texas.gov
   Office Phone: (512) 463-0454

7. Representative James Talarico James.Talarico@house.texas.gov
   Office Phone: (512) 463-0670

8. Representative Cody Vasut Cody.Vasut@house.texas.gov
   Office Phone: (512) 463-0564

9. Representative Gene Wu Gene.Wu@house.texas.gov
   Office Phone: (512) 463-0492

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