Teens and and young adults are often seeking acceptance during those stages of their life, and if they receive attention from the wrong people, they can end up going down the wrong path. So what should you do if you believe your child or someone you know may be getting pressured to enter the sex trade? We explain how you can protect your child and other minors in today’s blog.
Prostitution and Orders For Protection
If you are concerned that a loved one or a friend may be being exploited in the sex business, you can file what’s known as an Order For Protection (OFP). Orders for protection are more common in instances of domestic violence, but they also can protect vulnerable women and children who may be in trouble with a pimp or trafficker. If you believe your child is being exploited, you’ll want to file an OFP in juvenile court. Once the order is requested, a hearing will have to occur within 14 days.
During the hearing, the judge will hear evidence presented by the party seeking the order for protection. If the judge believes an OFP is warranted, they can issue one for a set length of time. A typical OFP is granted for between one and five years, although it can be granted for a lifetime in extreme circumstances. Victims also have the option to renew their protective order if they still feel threatened when their OFP is nearing expiration.
Order For Protection Provisions
An order for protection is pretty flexible in that it can provide a number of different protection options. For example, it can offer:
- No Contact – As the name implies, this type of protection would prohibit the abuser from contacting the victim in person, through text, email, phone call or any other method of communication.
- Peaceful Contact – The order would allow the two parties to have contact so long as it is in a peaceful manner. This often applies in custody agreements where someone drops their children off with an ex, and doesn’t really lend itself to a pimp/sex trafficking victim relationship.
- Stay Aware/Steer Clear – In this type of order, a person would have to stay at a certain distance (100 yards, etc.) away from a person, place or area.
- Move Out – With this order, the abuser would have to move out of a residence shared with a victim.
- Counseling Provision – Orders the abuser to receive counseling for their actions.
So if you believe your daughter or someone you know may be being coerced into the world of prostitution, seek and order for protection in a Minnesota juvenile court. Additionally, it never hurts to talk to an attorney, especially if your loved one ends up facing criminal charges. We’ve helped defend the victims of prostitution who have gotten caught up in a mess, and we can do the same for you. Let Avery Appelman and the team at Appelman Law Firm get the justice you deserve.
