Understanding and Responding to Illicit Massage and Human Trafficking in Ohio
Tony Talbott, PhD(c), MA & Bailey Johnson, BA | September 23 | 10:15-11:15 AM
Topic: Research, Legal | Knowledge Level: Intermediate
This session presents an overview of human trafficking and illicit massage businesses (IMBs) in Ohio and provides detailed policy recommendations aimed at reducing commercial sexual and labor exploitation within this sector. The study consists of original research that builds upon recent research on IMBs conducted by Polaris (2018), Heyrick (2020), and others. Ohio is unique in the U.S. in that massage therapy is licensed and regulated by the state medical board, but non-therapeutic or “relaxation” massage legally exists with nearly zero oversite or regulation. This loophole in the law has contributed to the spread of IMBs that often exploit primarily foreign workers for commercial sex or forced labor. This study examines the many intersectional causes and effects of this exploitation (e.g., race, culture, class, migration) and offers an overview of currently proposed state legislation (SB 55, HB 81), content analysis and coding of municipal ordinances from 28 different Ohio cities, an examination of Ohio-based IMB advertising and reviews from commercial sex web sites, quantitative analysis of four decades of Ohio media reports accessed from Lexis-Nexis, and formal interviews conducted with seven experts with IMB-related experience in Ohio (including: law enforcement, researchers, advocates, and massage therapists). Findings include an overview of IMBs in Ohio, an evaluation of existing municipal codes relating to IMBs, a set of policy recommendations, and an advocacy strategy and for community activists to create positive change.
Presentation Objectives:
· Provide an overview of the study, including main questions, methodology, and findings
· Describe the implications and recommendations based on the research