2026 Conference on Violent Crime

Sex trafficking occurs daily across Virginia, with traffickers targeting individuals with vulnerabilities and exploiting them for profit. While much attention is rightly focused on traffickers and survivors, far less is understood about the role of buyers in sustaining this system. Sex trafficking operates within a framework of supply and demand—without demand, exploitation would not be profitable.
This presentation examines the critical role buyers play in perpetuating trafficking. It explores emerging insights into buyer behavior, including patterns of coercion, violence, and abuse that directly contribute to victim harm. The session will also address strategies communities can implement to disrupt demand, hold buyers accountable, and reduce the conditions that allow trafficking to persist.