Sex trafficking is categorized as what type of crime?

• A. A crime against the state
• B. A crime against a person
• C. A non-criminal offense
• D. A property crime

Answer: (B)

Crimes are categorized by the type of harm or target of the wrongdoing. Sex trafficking involves coercing, controlling, and exploiting an individual for commercial sexual exploitation, causing direct harm to that person’s liberty, safety, and bodily integrity. Because the central harm is to a person, it is treated as a crime against a person. It isn’t primarily about damaging property, nor is it a public-order or state crime, and it isn’t a civil or non-criminal violation. In practice, trafficking charges focus on the victim as the harmed party, reflecting why this offense fits under crimes against a person.