Originally Posted by
Spiff
In 2003, the United States strengthened its ability to fight child sex tourism by passing the Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation of Children Today Act (PROTECT Act) and the Trafficking Victim's Protection Reauthorization Act. These laws carry penalties of up to 30 years in prison for engaging in child sex tourism. In the nine years since these laws were strengthened, HSI special agents have arrested 93 suspects on child sex tourism charges.
Less than 10 criminals per year arrested, likely fewer prosecuted (successfully).
The cynic in me thinks that the optimists who think that the number of such child sex tourists is less than 10 per year are badly mistaken. However, that's the price the children pay when our scarce law enforcement and other government resources spend their time harassing others on much less serious "crime". (like trying to fly without being treated like a criminal)
I would bet that all 93 have or will be successfully prosecuted. Those were Federal arrests by HSI agents. That means the AUSA's office was heavily involved and would not have procured the arrest warrants unless they intended to prosecute and were 100% sure they could win.
That is how Federal prosecutors keep their conviction rates so high. It just does not work the way state and locals do. It is very rare that a Federal LEO will make a criminal arrest based solely on probable cause. In most cases, the case has been presented to the AUSA for acceptance way before the arrest is made. For state and locals, very often it works the opposite way the arrest is made and then it is presented to the DA for prosecution. The DA then decides whether to proceed or not.
FB