“Untold numbers of children fall victim to predatory adults, many of whom have ties to criminal street gangs,” said Supervisor Knabe. “They are sexually exploited and abused in unspeakably brutal ways, all for commercial gain. Criminal street gangs have embraced human trafficking as a lucrative revenue source; as sex trafficking now rivals narcotic sales as the major source of revenue for many gangs.”

Senate Bill 473, authored by Senator Marty Block and sponsored by San Diego County would create tougher penalties for gang members convicted of human trafficking, including adding a three year prison sentence for anyone convicted of a human trafficking crime that occurs on or within 1,000 feet of a school.

“This legislation would be a major step forward in putting an end to the physical and mental abuse of these young girls,” said Knabe.

To learn more about sex trafficking in Los Angeles County, visit http://youtu.be/tJlkLFSmbb4.

“A public that is aware and informed of the horrific child sex trafficking industry is our greatest tool in protecting these young victims,” said Supervisor Don Knabe. “We must continue to raise the profile on the sexual exploitation of our young girls and shine a light on a heinous crime that is happening right here in our communities and neighborhoods.”

Los Angeles County is proud to partner with the Lamar Advertising Company to continue its anti-child sex trafficking campaign outreach.

“Child sex trafficking is a grisly and unimaginable act and the Lamar Advertising Company is supportive of this campaign to bring awareness to the public,” said Lamar Advertising Company general manager Ray Baker. “This is a true example of government and the private sector working together and expanding a campaign that could save the lives of young victims.”

The campaign, originally called for by Supervisor Knabe, included messaging at Metro train stations and bus stops, as well as on all rail cars, trains and over 3,000 buses in both English and Spanish. Additionally, anti-child sex trafficking messaging was placed on over 50 digital displays and 15 traditional billboards across Los Angeles County.

To learn more about child sex trafficking in Los Angeles County, visit http://youtu.be/tJlkLFSmbb4.

The campaign, originally called for by Supervisor Knabe, will appear at Metro train stations and bus stops, as well as on all rail cars, trains and over 3,000 buses in both English and Spanish. Thanks to a generous donation by Clear Channel Outdoor, over 50 digital displays and 15 traditional billboards will broadcast the message across Los Angeles County.

“This campaign is a first step in raising the public profile of child sex trafficking and finding a way to protect these young victims,” said Supervisor Knabe. “This is a great example of government and the private sector working together to shine a light on a travesty that is happening right here inLos AngelesCountycommunities and neighborhoods.  Together, we are saying, ‘No more.  Not in our streets.  Not to our young girls.’”

Metro released 77,000 brochures on child sex trafficking in early April, 2012. The brochures include basic facts, tips on how to recognize victims and what steps to take. At the end of April, 15,000 brochures also were released on Metrolink trains.  All ads and posters include a QR code which, when scanned by a smartphone, will direct people to the Metro website for more information on what they can do to help fight child sex trafficking.

“Metro applauds the leadership of Supervisor Don Knabe in launching the campaign to fight child sex trafficking, and we encourage our many riders to be vigilant in telling Sheriff’s deputies or Metro employees if they see suspicious activity on our buses, trains and in our stations,” said Metro CEO Art Leahy.

Los AngelesCountyis also proud to partner with Clear Channel Outdoor to take its anti-child sex trafficking message to millions of residents.

“Child sex trafficking is a horrible and growing problem in Los Angeles county and Clear Channel applauds the work of Supervisor Knabe and the County to bring attention to this problem in order to encourage residents to take action to protect vulnerable children,” said Clear Channel Outdoor’s Southern California Division President Lee Ann Muller. “Clear Channel is honored to partner on this campaign to communicate this critically important public safety message so we, as a community, can save children from being sexually exploited.”

The digital displays will begin running the anti-child sex trafficking campaign today; traditional billboards will begin on June 4, 2012.

The campaign, originally called for by Supervisor Knabe, will appear at Metro train stations and bus stops, as well as all rail cars, and trains and over 3,000 buses. Thanks to a generous donation by Clear Channel, over 65 outdoor billboards and digital displays will broadcast the message across Los Angeles County.

When:       Thursday, May 31 2012; 9:00 a.m.

Where:      Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, Main Entrance,500 West Temple St., 90012

Who:

• Don Knabe, Los Angele County Supervisor
• Leroy D. Baca , Los Angeles County Sheriff
• Jim McDonnell, Police Chief, City ofLong Beach
• Art Leahy, CEO, Metro
• Clear Channel
• Chris Kelly, Former Chief Privacy Officer at Facebook & Founder of the Safer California Foundation

If enacted into law, the CASE Act would be the toughest human trafficking law in the country.  It would increase prison terms for human traffickers, require convicted sex traffickers to register as sex offenders, mandate training for law enforcement officers, and require criminal fines from convicted human traffickers to pay for services to help victims.

“Communities through the United States are facing the horrific reality of child sex trafficking occurring right here on our streets and in our neighborhoods.  It is not a problem ‘over there,’” said Knabe.  “Sadly, Los Angeles County is recognized as one of the major hubs for this criminal activity.  The average age of a victim that is sexually trafficked is between 12 and 14 years of age.

I want Los Angeles County to be a national leader in fighting this heinous crime and protecting our vulnerable youth.  Earlier this year, I asked the County’s Probation Department to implement a program that will give the girls who come into our system a chance to heal and an opportunity for a new life.  But we must also deal with the real criminals here – the pimps who forcibly coerce and manipulate young girls into selling their bodies for their financial benefit.  The CASE Act would be a major step forward in enacting tougher penalties and putting an end to the physical and mental abuse of these young girls.”

Over the past several years Los Angeles County has seen a significant increase in the number of sexually trafficked youth. Minors, some as young as 12 years old, are forcibly coerced and manipulated by adults and are enslaved and sexually exploited for commercial gain.

“Every day in Los Angeles County, children are transported on Metro buses and trains and we have an opportunity to make the public aware that some kids may be there against their will and a victim of human sex trafficking,” said Supervisor Knabe.

Supervisor Knabe’s motion directs Metro to develop and implement the public awareness campaign, and report back in February and March with updates on its progress.

“Posting information on Metro buses, trains, at stations, and on Metro’s website, will shine a light on this travesty in the places it can be most likely to occur,” said Supervisor Knabe. “We must do our part to help bring those individuals responsible for the abuse and exploitation of children to justice.”

Over the past several years Los Angeles County has seen a significant increase in the number of sexually trafficked youth, and is recognized among law enforcement as one of the major hubs for sex trafficking in the State and Nation.  Currently the county lacks victim centered services for sexually trafficked youth who are in the juvenile justice system.

The proposed program will be a part of a partnership with the Courts, Federal and local law enforcement agencies, medical/mental health services, and community providers. The goal is to develop an effective partnership and diversion process that includes rehabilitative services for sexually exploited youth who are currently in the criminal justice system in Los Angeles County.

The program will be funded by the newly awarded Title II Formula Block Grant that supports state and local delinquency prevention, intervention efforts, and juvenile justice system improvements.   The pilot program will include medical and mental health assessment, enhanced supervision, focused treatment and services either within a placement program or in the community, mentoring, and aftercare.

For more information about the new training program, please contact Michelle Guymon at (626)236-5405 or Hania Cardenas at (562) 335-7760.

The children arrested for prostitution are often released, as it is a misdemeanor charge.  “We think these numbers are representative of a much larger number of girls forced into prostitution who have not yet been arrested, or are not being determined to be sexual victims in screenings when placed in either foster care of the juvenile justice system,” said Knabe.  “It’s the biggest problem we have on this issue – we don’t know what we don’t know.”

Knabe recognized employees from the Probation Department, Michelle Guymon and Hania Cardenas, for their initiative and leadership in raising awareness of this issue.  “Michelle and Hania have gone above and beyond their regular duties, spending countless hours of their personal time, to shine a light on this travesty and advocate for rehabilitation and healing that is specific for victims of this crime,” said Knabe.

Knabe also called for the Probation Department to track and gather more statistics to better understand the breadth of the issue.  Based on this increased knowledge, he called for more aggressive prevention tactics to combat the problem and more focus on developing aftercare programs.  Knabe asked for the Department to look at the possibility of establishing a special unit in Probation, dedicated to sexually exploited minors and the development of specialized services for the victims of this horrendous crime.

“These young girls have often suffered in their own homes and then move to a life on the streets where they are further victimized by local pimps and gangs,” said Knabe.  “As a grandfather it is horrifying to think of the lives these young girls face.  We must do everything we can to get these girls off the streets and on a path to a better life ahead.”