Sixteen teens were rescued from sex trafficking in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut in the days leading up to the Super Bowl, according to law enforcement officials. The teens were mostly girls between the ages of 13 and 17, and many had been reported missing by their families.

The girls were working as prostitutes, but FBI officials will not charge them with a crime, given the coercion involved.

“These recoveries are victim-focused,” said Michael Osborne of the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children Unit. “Many times these young people are kept in this life by pimps using sexual, physical and emotional abuse.” (ABC News)

Paul Asay has covered religion for The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Beliefnet.com and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette. He writes about culture for Plugged In and wrote the Batman book God on the Streets of Gotham (Tyndale). He lives in Colorado Springs with wife Wendy and his two children. Follow him on Twitter.