By Casey King
When most people think about the issue of sex trafficking, it is not news to them that it exists. However, it is often associated with third world countries, places in no means close to their local community. However, this could not be more wrong. Everyday approximately 300,000 children are at risk of being victims of sex trafficking, with the average age of these children sex slaves being 13-14 years old (U.S Department of Justice). James Corney, Director of the FBI, at a recent press conference for Operation Cross Country talked about the victims of sex trafficking in the United States and stated, “these are not children living in some faraway place, far from everyday life… these are America’s children”.
Operation Cross Country is apart of the Innocence Lost National Initiative set up by the FBI. It is a weeklong mass sex-trafficking sting the FBI, as well as local, state, and federal law enforcement is involved in. Motels, casinos, and truck stops are targeted during this nationwide enforcement action. However, with current trends the Internet has become a large target for finding sex trafficking of minors. On cites like Craigslist and Back Page, pimps can post photos of girls and a short description for men to read. The websites are free to use and open to anyone who has an Internet connection. There are hundreds of posts made everyday on these sites, which gives law enforcement a good starting point for tracking and saving sex slaves. After their weeklong investigation that took place in June, in 106 different cities, the operation recovered 168 children who were being sold as sex slaves around the country, as well as arresting 281 pimps.
During Operation Cross Country in Maryland last week, two teens were rescued, one in Baltimore County, and one in Montgomery County, as well as 5 pimps. Earlier in June, five people plead guilt for selling a 14 year-old girl into sex slavery in the Towson area. In May, Gov. Martin O’Malley spoke at the Governor’s Conference on Combating Human Sex Trafficking in Maryland about the increasing problem of human trafficking in Maryland (http://www.goccp.maryland.gov/victim/humantrafficking.php), especially that of minors. The Department of Juvenile Services has identified, already this year, 57 youth victims of human trafficking in Maryland. With Maryland ranking eighth as the most calls per state to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline, it is obvious that we have a lot of work to do in order to fix this issue.
Thanks to organizations like Safe House For Hope and Turn Around, both Maryland Organizations, there is much progress being made to help the victims of sex trafficking. Katie, a woman who was forced into prostitution at the age of 13, was severely beaten and raped. She was eventually connected with Safe House For Hope and is now in college with a professional job. Katie made a short video of her journey that won the 2012 Maryland State Bar Association’s Video Contest, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPY9ITWuf7E). These organizations are helping victims, current and recovering, to move on and become healthy and productive members of their community in every way.
There is a lot of work and attention that needs to be brought to issue of sex trafficking. Hopefully, with the ongoing efforts of local law enforcement, Safe House for Hope, Turn Around, and Operation Cross Country more people will understand just how important it is to recognize the terrible crimes that are happening, against children, just down the street.