Seattle police officers and detectives have so far rescued 45 children, age 17 and under, from being prostituted this year. That's a record number, highest in the United States. Last year, 30 children were rescued.
The problem of children forced into street prostitution in our region is well documented. One of my proudest and most gratifying initiatives since joining the City Council is the successful launch of the safe-haven residential treatment facility where these kids can begin to get their lives back. The Bridge, the program's official name, opened a few months ago. Five
young girls, ages 15 to 17, have been accepted into the program and are receiving the care, nurture and services they urgently need. It's a three year pilot program with a rigorous set of evaluation criteria. Hopefully, if successful, at least three facilities of this type will be established in Washington.
There's an all-day conference underway at City Hall today on the issue of commercially sexually exploited children, one aspect of human trafficking. I had the privilege of sharing a few opening comments with the attendees earlier today. About 150 regional professionals from law enforcement, the courts, human services providers, and others are gathered to determine how best to coordinate our response to what has become a significant and life-damaging issue for young people. Experts from Atlanta, Georgia presented how their community organized a regional response to this same issue.
One key factor here is how the police respond. In Seattle, and I'm very proud of our officers, we have seen a significant shift in how the police approach children who are being prosecuted. They view these kids as crime victims, often subject to brutalizing violence and intimidation. SPD's vice unit has changed their name to the Vice and High Risk Victims Unit, a name change that reflects their focus on the pimps (exploiters) and "johns" (predators) who prey on these kids. This unit also deals with other human trafficking issues.