Officials in San Bernardino County are taking aim at a $32 billion-a-year global industry which profits from the forced indenture of underage girls into sex slavery.
Teenage $ex 4 $ale: Human Trafficking in San Bernardino County is a short documentary produced by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office that delves into the problem of sexual exploitation in the nation’s largest county.
From the district attorney’s website:
From boastful pimps preying on young women to one woman’s quest to open a home for female victims, the film highlights a unique coalition of government agencies and how they are reaching deep into the community to eradicate human trafficking.
It was screened on January 16 to around 300 county officials, members of law enforcement and the community. It has since been made available to the public at large.
“Today, we have taken significant steps and strengthened existing partnerships to send the message to anyone who commits this crime in our county you will be held accountable,” Ramos said at the end of the screening.
The documentary was created by the DA’s spokesman Christopher Lee and underscores the harsh realities of child sex trafficking as well as highlights efforts that have been taken to combat the problem. View the trailer below:
http://youtu.be/ZFycO8_oM-Q
San Bernardino has had its fair share of crimes related to sex trafficking. In 2012, 338 prostitution cases were filed in the county. 27 additional cases involved minors.
In order to combat the rise in prostitution-related cases, the DA’s office has appropriated a special unit specifically dedicated to prosecuting human-trafficking crimes.
The county has further implemented a “Stop the John” project, in which it will publish the names and photos of men convicted of soliciting prostitutes.
According to the LA Daily Bulletin, authorities in San Bernardino County are looking into the possibility of creating a girls’ juvenile court that offers resources and rehabilitation to help former prostitutes escape from sex slavery.
The county has made the film available to universities, school districts, government agencies and officials, members of law enforcement, churches and any other organization committed to raising awareness and combatting the terrible crime of human trafficking. For more information on hosting a screening, contact Christopher Lee.
View the documentary below or click here to find out more information about hosting a screening:
TEENAGE $EX 4 $ALE: HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY from sbcountyda on Vimeo.