Yesterday's Seattle Times carried the gripping and tragic story of Kelsey, a young woman from Everett caught up in the seamy and violent world of juvenile sex trafficking. Susan Kelleher's article captures the reality for the children "recruited" into street and Internet prostitution. (Kelsey posted this photo of herself on her MySpace page. She has disappeared and is reported missing by police.)
But, Kelleher's piece doesn't tell about the dramatic shift in public policy and policing that has taken place over the past two years as parents, communities, police, prosecutors and public officials struggle with the growing problem of human trafficking, much of it centered on coercing children—some as young as 12 years of age—into a world of violence, neglect and horror.
For example, Seattle police changed the name of their Vice Unit to the "Vice and High Risk Victims Unit," a change that reflects a fundamental shift in how police view women caught up in street and Internet prostitution, including juveniles. I know that this name change isn't just artful packaging, either.
Our "High Risk Victim" detectives have built highly successful cases against the predators (pimps and johns) who prey on these women and have worked with federal and regional authorities to break up gangs and other organized criminal enterprises who specialize in prostitution.
Another significant change took effect last year when State Representative Mary Lou Dickerson's proposal (HB1505) to allow diversion of juveniles involved in prostitution away from the criminal justice system was adopted and became law. This legislation recognizes the significance of the problem and provides police, prosecutors and the courts with alternatives to the traditional "arrest, prosecute, jail, arrest again" cycle so common with prostitution. This measure passed both Houses of our Legislative without one dissenting vote. It was a bold statement that children forced into prostitution in our state needed special care and services that the criminal justice system can't usually provide and it recognized the victim status of these children.
Finally, this topic involves the much broader issue of domestic and international human trafficking which has received greater attention recently among many—police, prosecutors, faith-based groups, community organizations, and individual citizens who recognize the scope of this problem. The Women's Funding Alliance has scheduled a community discussion of this issue at Town Hall in Seattle on January 20.
The plight of children forced into prostitution is not something we like to talk about, but—along with other forms of human trafficking—it is a reality. How we respond and how we develop solutions is a challenge we must accept. Our city and state have taken strong steps in a new direction designed to rescue the victims and provide them with the help they urgently need—help that Kelsey urgently needed. Will we be ready to recognize and offer love and support to the next Kelsey when we see her on the street?