Job Summary

There are growing concerns that sex trafficking is moving to websites and mobile applications, contributing to technology-facilitated sex trafficking one form of which is called coerced pornography. A successful criminal prosecution was brought against Ruben Andre Garcia, who was charged with sex trafficking and sentenced in 2021 to 20 years in prison for conspiring with the owners of the adult websites GirlsDoPorn (GDP) and GirlsDoToys (GDT) to recruit young women to appear in sex videos for adult websites using force, fraud, and coercion.  At his sentencing trial, 22 women who had been sex trafficked in this way provided victim impact statements, which consist of descriptions of how the crime hurt them that are intended to assist the judge with deciding on a sentence for the defendant. This research seeks to understand victim harms and the role of technology in facilitating these harms surrounding coerced pornography and technology facilitated sex trafficking. The data source consists of these 22 victim impact statements given during the sentencing trial, which are publicly available. 

Responsibilities*

The student will assist with qualitative data management including coding and analysis of the victim impact statements. The semester will consist of continuing training on qualitative coding and analysis of the victim impact statements. The final part will be spent arranging the themes into a narrative, writing drafts of results and discussion, and beginning a literature review based on the findings.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Background Screening

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U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.