Stacie Beckerman Assistant United States Attorney and Sex Trafficking Crimes Coordinator Gerri Badden, Public Information Officer United States Attorney’s Office SEX TRAFFICKING IN OREGON
WHAT IS SEX TRAFFICKING?
Commercial sexual exploitation - Minors - Force, fraud, coercion DEFINITION
● 469 children trafficked in Portland in past 4 years RECENT STUDY
● Average age: 15.5 RECENT STUDY
RECRUITMENT
● Any kid can be trafficked ● Some commonalities - Runaways/homeless - Prior exploitation - Prior sexual abuse - Drug abuse - Self esteem issues - Mental health issues - Not in school VICTIMS
TACTICS
THE UGLY TRUTH
● Death rate for prostitutes high (204 out of 100,000) ● Physical attacks approximately once/month STATISTIC
LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE
● FBI ● PPB ● Other local police agencies ● U.S. Attorney’s Office ● DA’s Office FBI TASK FORCE
● Victim-centered ● Sting operations ● Monitor Internet LAW ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY
CONSEQUENCES
10 year mandatory minimum sentence Maximum sentence: LIFE Sex offender registration: LIFE SEX TRAFFICKING A MINOR
JUSTICE
-Tattoos (branding) -Gucci, Louis Vuitton -“Daddy” “P” “Wifey” “F with him” -Weekend travel -Hotels -Multiple cell phones SIGNS
Be. A. Friend. Be. A. Hero. HOW CAN STUDENTS HELP EACH OTHER?
polarisproject.org sarcoregon.org HOW CAN I HELP?
911 FBI: Children of the Night 24-hr hotline: NEED HELP?
Stacie Beckerman, AUSA Gerri Badden, PIO QUESTIONS?
Thank you.