tim has not changed her story, she has just come to trust those trying to help her. It is the prosecutor’s job to make sure that the jury understands why the victim has revealed the facts over time rather than all at once. Her description of events becomes more detailed as she moves forward and is distanced from her pimp. Typically, this process is not smooth and often the victim will return to the pimp, the streets, or another pimp before she can get the help she needs. Much like victims of domestic violence, the process is cyclical; it can take several contacts with law enforcement, or getting beaten enough by the pimp, for a victim to break the cycle. An integral part of this process is placement. It is much easier to place international victims; because of their illegal status in the United States they can be detained. Authorities cannot detain an American citizen if she has not committed a crime. Once an American girl has been identified as a victim, the issue becomes where she should be placed.
thehoustonlawyer.com
September/October 2012
21