The STOPLight

"Children in the Game" reviewed

by Ross MacInnes Copyright 1994, 46 pages reviewed by Loie Meyer

Ross MacInnes, a retired vice unit commander from Calgary, Alberta, Canada wrote this book to give parents, social workers, and other concerned people information needed to understand children caught in prostitution. In the author's words, "It is only through our understanding that we can mount an effective recovery process."

MacInnes focuses first on the one who entraps children in prostitution -- "the predatory pimp." Based on interviews with young girls, active pimps, and pimps m prison, he builds a generic profile of a pimp -- his personality, his motivation, and his strategies for success.

Next MacInnes invites the reader into the life of the victim. Again a descriptive generic profile is presented -- her childhood, recruitment, physical and emotional damage, cognitive and social difficulties, and legal problems.

The author leaves the reader with success stories and a call to action.

Though this book was intended for parents, social workers, and others committed to helping young girls get out of prostitution and rebuild their lives, those working with youth at risk may also find it useful.

To order, send $10 to Street Teams, 5123 17th Avenue NW, Calgary, Alberta T3B 0P8. All proceeds from the sale of this book go to the Street Team Project, an agency focused solely on child prostitution.