Meredith Dank

New York University

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Papers

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i-10 index

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Document Type

Co-Authors

Janine M. Zweig

Urban Institute

Jennifer Yahner

Urban Institute

Pamela Lachman

Community Resources for Justice

Andrea Hughes

John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Amy Farrell

The University of Texas at Austin

Kayse Lee Maass

Northeastern University

Yaren Bilge Kaya

Northeastern University

Renata Konrad

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Geri L. Dimas

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Kirk Dombrowski

University of Vermont

Cooperative Institutions

John Jay College of Criminal Justice

City University of New York

Urban Institute

Northeastern University

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Universidad del Noreste

RTI International

New York University

Yale University

University of Chicago

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A Method for Determining the Size of the Underground Cash Economy for Commercial Sex in Seven US Cities

Oxford University Press eBooks (2016)

Bilal Khan Mitch Downey Meredith Dank Kirk Dombrowski

This chapter describes a new method for determining the size of the underground cash economy for commercial sex in seven major US cities: Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Miami, San Diego, Seattle, and Washington, DC. In this innovative methodology, the operating assumption of the process is that estimates of the size of various domains of the underground economy are more accurate when comparative data across time and different locations are taken into account and when estimates of the size of one domain of the underground economy are forced to balance estimates of other domains in the underground economy with which they coincide. This method is used to derive a more rigorous estimate of the underground commercial sex economy and shed more light on its structure. To estimate its size accurately, simultaneous estimates are obtained for the size of the cash-based trade in illegal drugs and illegal firearms in each city.

Miami

Atlanta

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199915248.013.12

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Citations (1)

The Trafficking of Children in the USA

Cambridge University Press eBooks (2019)

Meredith Dank Andrea Hughes

10.1017/9781108597296.003

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Citations (1)

Do Substance Use, Psychosocial Adjustment, and Sexual Experiences Vary for Dating Violence Victims Based on Type of Violent Relationships?

Journal of School Health (2016)

Janine M. Zweig Jennifer Yahner Meredith Dank Pamela Lachman

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND We examined whether substance use, psychosocial adjustment, and sexual experiences vary for teen dating violence victims by the type of violence in their relationships. We compared dating youth who reported no victimization in their relationships to those who reported being victims of intimate terrorism (dating violence involving one physically violent and controlling perpetrator) and those who reported experiencing situational couple violence (physical dating violence absent the dynamics of power and control). METHODS This was a cross‐sectional survey of 3745 dating youth from 10 middle and high schools in the northeastern United States, one third of whom reported physical dating violence. RESULTS In general, teens experiencing no dating violence reported less frequent substance use, higher psychosocial adjustment, and less sexual activity than victims of either intimate terrorism or situational couple violence. In addition, victims of intimate terrorism reported higher levels of depression, anxiety, and anger/hostility compared to situational couple violence victims; they also were more likely to report having sex, and earlier sexual initiation. CONCLUSIONS Youth who experienced physical violence in their dating relationships, coupled with controlling behaviors from their partner/perpetrator, reported the most psychosocial adjustment issues and the earliest sexual activity.

Situational ethics

Hostility

Dating violence

Sexual Violence

10.1111/josh.12453

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Citations (5)

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in New York City, Volume One

Ric Curtis Karen J. Terry Meredith Dank Kirk Dombrowski Bilal Ahmad Khan

Source

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Citations (2)

Teen dating abuse and harassment in the digital world: Implications for prevention and intervention

PsycEXTRA Dataset (2013)

Janine M. Zweig Meredith Dank

Harassment

Dating violence

10.1037/e529052013-001

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Citations (3)

An Exploration into the Lived Experiences of Young People Forced to Beg and Sell Goods in Kampala, Uganda

Journal of Human Trafficking (2023)

Lauren Moton Meredith Dank Yu-Hsuan Liu Andrea Hughes

ABSTRACTChildren and youth in Uganda are susceptible to forced labor. To gain insight into their lived experiences, we employed an explanatory sequential mixed methods framework, administering 530 surveys then interviewing a subset of 36 survey takers. Through the lens of child standpoint theory, we examined participant demographics, type of work and entry points, abuse, and help seeking/barriers to leaving. Key findings include the following: 1) Participant demographics were largely males under 17 years; 2) parental death and socioeconomic strain in the home led to participant’s vulnerability to forced labor; 3) participants frequently begged and/or sold food or goods, collected scrap metal, bottles, or plastic; 4) employers (exploiters) were mostly parents, other family members, or others that children encounter in Kampala; 5) abuse ranged from physical, sexual, verbal, financial and psychological at the hands of employers, individuals on the streets, and authorities; and 6) participants avoided reporting abuse to authorities for lack of trust, fear of employer, or unawareness of how/where to report. We argue for child/youth-centered research and the training of stakeholders on youth and children’s rights and protections, more funding for child welfare programming and the institution of mandated laws, policies, procedures, resources, coordination and enforcement mechanisms aimed at reducing child forced labor.KEYWORDS: Forced beggingforced sellinglabor traffickingstreet childrenUganda Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThe work was supported by the Human Trafficking Institute .

10.1080/23322705.2023.2247922

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Citations (1)

Correlates of Cyber Dating Abuse Among Teens

Journal of Youth and Adolescence (2013)

Janine M. Zweig Pamela Lachman Jennifer Yahner Meredith Dank

Health psychology

Legal psychology

History of psychology

Dating violence

10.1007/s10964-013-0047-x

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Citations (195)

Controlling Behaviors Measure

PsycTESTS Dataset (2014)

Janine M. Zweig Jennifer Yahner Meredith Dank Pamela Lachman

10.1037/t60377-000

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Citations (0)

Understanding the Trafficking of Children for the Purposes of Labor in the United States

CrimRxiv (2024)

Amy Farrell Meredith Dank Katherine Kaufka Walts Callie Hansson Andrea Hughes

The exploitation of children who are working in the United States is a critical social issue. While recent public attention has been directed toward labor abuses of migrant children, there is strong evidence that labor trafficking impacts a wide range of children who experience individual and structural vulnerabilities. Despite public concern about the exploitation and labor trafficking of children, we lack detailed information about what young people are exploited for labor, the contexts under which these abuses occur, and how to best meet the needs of these young survivors – both U.S. citizen and foreign-national. Utilizing data from 71 cases of child labor trafficking either prosecuted by U.S. officials (36) or served by legal advocacy agencies in four U.S. sites (35). Across these cases information was coded for 132 child labor trafficking victims and 145 child labor trafficking perpetrators. Case data was supplemented with in-depth interviews with legal advocates, victim service providers, child welfare, law enforcement and other government officials, as well as adult child labor trafficking survivors, this study fills important gaps in our knowledge.

10.21428/cb6ab371.c49b6230

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Practitioner Reflection: Reliance on Informal and Gig Economies Leaves LGBTQ+ Populations with Fewer Economic Choices and Greater Vulnerability to Trafficking

Journal of Human Trafficking (2024)

Mark Kavenagh Mackenzie Stoeltje Meredith Dank

Vulnerability to human trafficking is exacerbated by poverty, familial violence and abuse, homelessness, un- and under-employment, and migration. Many of these established vulnerabilities to human trafficking are also common vulnerabilities experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other (LGBTQ+) populations worldwide. Further, LGBTQ+ individuals face additional risks due to community and workplace stigma. These circumstances result in disproportionate barriers to formal employment, particularly in stable jobs that pay a living wage and are insulated from economic shocks. Yet anti-trafficking efforts frequently overlook LGBTQ+ people's particular needs. LGBTQ+ people frequently rely on insecure, informal, and gig economies for their livelihoods, making them susceptible to trafficking. Yet informal work opportunities also have positives. Individuals may maintain control of their work circumstances in ways they cannot if they work in formal settings. LGBTQ+ people report being able to choose contracts and clients or move on quickly when encountering unsafe situations. It should be noted that controlling our circumstances is a key tenet of trauma-informed support. Anti-trafficking interventions frequently seek transformational change with "rescue and rebuilding" underpinning programming. The authors propose an alternative model built around i) diversifying livelihood choices, ii) fostering psychological safety and iii) addressing the individual-level impacts of systemic stigma and discrimination.

Vulnerability

Reflection

10.1080/23322705.2024.2310349

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Citations (1)