In Tennessee, how many parties must be involved for a sex trafficking offense?

• A. 2
• B. 4
• C. 3
• D. 1

Answer: (C)

In Tennessee, sex trafficking involves a minimum of three parties: the person who traffics, the person who is trafficked, and a third party who benefits from or participates in the trafficking scheme. The statute targets not just the act of coercing or exploiting someone, but the broader scheme that includes others who profit or help facilitate the arrangement. Because the crime is defined by this three-party dynamic, three is the smallest number of people needed for the offense to be complete. If only two people were involved, it could fall under related offenses like pimping or forced prostitution, but it would not meet the statutory definition of trafficking.