Human trafficking is more like modern-day slavery. The perpetrators of trafficking subject the victims to forced labor and sexual exploitation to gain a profit. Women, men, and children are common human trafficking victims. This practice is a breach of human rights, making it a crime under California and U.S. federal laws. Sex trafficking involves exploiting a victim by using deceit or coercion to make them engage in prostitution, commercial sexual practice, pornography, or exotic dancing. Sex trafficking does not require force or coercion when the trafficking culprit is a child below 18 years. As outlined by the law, minors do not have the capacity to consent to sex.

Labor trafficking occurs when a perpetrator exploits a victim by deceit or coercion for cheap or free labor services. Victims of labor trafficking are forced to engage in domestic servitude or required to work in construction, agricultural establishments, restaurants, massage parlors, and factories with minimal or no compensation.

A defendant does not have to move the victim past the state or country borders to face human trafficking charges. Even if the victim remains in their home county or state, trafficking charges will still apply. The FBI highlighted San Diego as among the top thirteen child prostitution locations in the United States.

Who Are The Common Human Trafficking Victims?

Perpetrators isolate trafficking victims from families, the community, and the general public. Therefore, it can be difficult to identify human trafficking victims.

  • Human trafficking victims often include women, men, and children
  • Human trafficking victims could be domestic (United States citizens or legal residents) and foreign nationals (legally documented and undocumented persons)
  • Runway youths are common human trafficking victims. They are often recruited for sexual exploitation, mainly prostitution
  • Most human trafficking victims have a background of domestic violence and sexual abuse. However, victims could span different family and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Who Is A Perpetrator Of Human And Sex Trafficking?

According to state and federal law, human trafficking perpetrators include persons who:

  • Try to persuade or induce a minor or child below 18 to take part in pornography, prostitution, or other ways of sexual abuse/exploitation
  • Violate or deprive another person’s personal liberty, 18 years or above, using duress, coercion, or lies to make them engage in pornography, prostitution, or other ways of sexual abuse/exploitation
  • Violate or deprive the liberty/freedom of another person above 18 years through coercion, deceit, or duress to acquire forced labor services
  • Human trafficking perpetrators could include relatives, peer recruiters, romantic partners, and organized criminal gangs.

 

How Can You Tell That A Minor Is A Victim Of Trafficking And Sexual Exploitation?

Parents, employers, teachers, doctors, nurses, counselors, or friends of the victims are usually clueless about the victim’s abuse. A minor could be a victim of trafficking and sexual exploitation if he/she portrays the following traits:

  • Running away from home
  • Chronic absenteeism, truancy
  • A sudden drop in performance/grades
  • A change of friends or alienating themselves from certain friends
  • Rumors among students regarding involvement in sexual activities
  • A sudden change in attitude, behavior, or attire
  • Aggression, anger, being fearful, or suicidal
  • Claims of a new, secretive or mysterious boyfriend
  • Use of drugs like ecstasy and marijuana
  • Physical trauma, including bruises
  • Weight loss
  • Multiple cell phones or a new cell phone
  • Tattoos that are related to prostitution and pimping activity
  • Using terminology related to prostitution
  • The secrecy with phone and social media

What Effort Does The San Diego DA’s Office Make In Fighting Human Trafficking?

San Diego’s The Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Unit comprises prosecutors, paralegals, investigators, staff, and victim advocates committed to combating human trafficking. They are involved in every stage, including prevention, detection, education, or prosecution.

  • The San Diego DA's office collaborates with law enforcement partners to prosecute perpetrators of trafficking effectively. Currently, the prosecutions for human trafficking perpetrators have tripled compared to 2009
  • The DA's office collaborates with community service providers to enable them to serve victims of crime better.
  • Provision of specialized training to DA victim advocates to enable them to provide compassionate treatment to human trafficking victims.
  • Provision of training to prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and community partners
  • The use of computer technology to track the rising involvement of gangs in human trafficking
  • Supporting legislation that holds perpetrators of trafficking accountable – the office also advocates for the treatment of human trafficking victims with dignity.
  • Promoting prevention and awareness of human trafficking by implementing the Posting Law (SB 1193. Embracing the ProtectSanDiegoKids.org Billboard Campaign - the Alameda District Attorney’s office originated this campaign.
  • Participation in multi-disciplinary task forces and the Human Trafficking Law Enforcement
  • Creation and utilization of the Girls Only toolkit – this toolkit prevents girls from falling prey to human traffickers through the Girls and Boys Club organization.

What Should You Do To Curb Human Trafficking?

You can do the following to play your part in curbing human trafficking:

  • Enlighten yourself to ensure that you are aware of the various myths and facts about human trafficking
  • Have the trafficking hotline on your mobile phone and share it on your social media platforms to sensitize others
  • If you suspect a human trafficking operation, report it by dialing 1-888-3737-888. You can also text BeFree on 233733
  • Put the trafficking poster on your business or residence to increase awareness
  • Curb the rising demand for both labor and sexual exploitation. This demand constitutes the proceeds that motivate perpetrators of trafficking. For example, you should stop buying sex and obtaining cheap labor.
  • Enlighten yourself regarding the various red flags and warning signs of trafficking
  • Support laws that focus on holding the perpetrators of trafficking responsible and uphold dignity for human trafficking victims
  • Encourage and support your local institutions in educating teachers, health providers, counselors, and employees about human trafficking.
  • Encourage and support your local education institutions in educating children about human trafficking to avoid pitfalls and seek assistance.
  • Encourage faith-based and civic organizations to learn and enlighten their members on human trafficking.
  • Give support to the human trafficking victims. You can do this by embracing them into the community and leading them to available public resources.

Safety Tips

Traffickers reach most customers and victims by advertising and recruiting online. You should be smart online. Traffickers reach vulnerable adults, children, and teens through internet and social media-enabled devices like phones. Social media has allowed human traffickers to grow their customer base, increasing the demand that fuels profits from human trafficking.

Johns, pimps, and traffickers use the internet to buy and sell people in the U.S. They advertise children and women online for exploitative commercial sex, making it appear like the women and the children are operating independently, yet most are human trafficking victims.

How Could You Shield Yourself Or Your Family?

You should do the following to avoid falling victim to human traffickers:

  • Avoid talking to unfamiliar and unknown people
  • Avoid posting your personal details on social media platforms like Facebook. Do not post any information you would never like strangers to view
  • Do not believe the claims made by disguised human trafficking perpetrators. Most of them claim to be producers, photographers, and other professionals, promising to make you popular.
  • Do not accept invites to parties, especially if a person is not in the circle of your trusted friends. Let your parents or friends know of your whereabouts whenever you leave your home or school.
  • Do not fall for lines that traffickers use to trick These lines include "you can make good money," "you are beautiful," "I will always be there for you," "I will protect you," and "it's us versus the world."

 

Prevention Education in Public Schools

The Trafficking Prevention Collective in San Diego is an education program that seeks to reduce the count of minors involved in trafficking. The program combines participatory theater, childhood education, and a classroom curriculum. This collective is sponsored locally and collaborates with the San Diego County DA's office. Visit the www.SanDiegoTPC.org for more details regarding the collective.

Information From The NHTRC

Commonly abbreviated as NHTRC, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center runs a Polaris Project with the help of the United States Department of Health & Human Services. The NHTRC started operating a toll-free phone in 2007, which is in operation to date. With this 24-hour, seven-day-a-week number, call specialists connect human trafficking victims with social service workers and law enforcement officers in the area. The law enforcement officers can help the victims leave exploitative circumstances and into a safe environment where they can access health care, emotional support, and legal help.

If you want to get assistance for you or another person facing human trafficking or report an activity related to trafficking, you can:

  • Call the free hotline at 1-888-3737-888
  • You can also text “Info” or “Help” to Be Free (233733)

Community Resources And Initiatives

With the assistance of the San Diego DA's office, victim service, police, community-based, faith-based, and civic groups, the San Diego City Human Relations commission started a worldwide campaign to effect a novel law that enhances the sharing of information regarding human trafficking. According to Senate Bill 1193, certain businesses and establishments should share a notice sensitizing the masses and human trafficking victims about the phone numbers they can use to report illegal activity. The reporting methods include:

  • Locally designed posting notice — The model of the posting notice is available at the Attorney General's Office.
  • Billboard campaign — This public service campaign started as ProtectOaklandKids. It was a collaborative effort of several players.