October is Crime Prevention Month, and at Saving Innocence, we recognize that education and awareness are powerful tools in preventing human trafficking. Here are some important safety tips to help keep our children and communities safe from human trafficking:
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Be aware of your surroundings: Whether walking to school, waiting at the bus stop, or hanging out with friends, always stay alert. Nearly 60% of human trafficking victims in the U.S. were approached in public spaces. Avoid distractions like headphones or phones, and if something feels off, trust your instincts and seek help.
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Educate and empower: Teach children and teenagers about healthy relationships and how to spot warning signs of unhealthy ones. Red flags can include relationships that are controlling, secretive, or involve any form of violence. If someone is pressuring them to keep a relationship a secret or making them feel uneasy with certain requests or conversations, it’s important to trust those feelings. Encourage open communication and remind young people that it’s always okay to speak up if they feel uncomfortable or notice something that doesn’t seem right.
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Staying safe on social media: The FBI estimates there are over 900,000 predators online at any given moment. Set profiles to private and don’t share personal information or posts that reveal your location. Private messaging with people you don’t know or chatting on online gaming apps are often dangerous. Never meet anyone in person that you’ve “met” online. If you receive messages that make you uncomfortable, tell a trusted adult.
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Know Who to Contact: If you suspect someone is in danger, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” to 233733. In 2023, this hotline received over 2,300 reports from California alone.
L.A Human Trafficking Task Force
A key way we work to keep our community safe is by co-leading the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force. Our Task Force Coordinator, Ray Bercini, said:
“The LA Regional Human Trafficking Task Force collaborates with hundreds of agencies throughout Los Angeles County. As one of the task forces lead agencies, Saving Innocence is the ‘go to’ for victim services and is highly respected in that role. Saving Innocence and all our partner agencies will continue to focus on keeping our communities safe and protecting our children
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For the month of September, we celebrate the important victories that happened because of the Task Force:
20 Total New Cases
19 Total Arrests
4 Total Prosecutions
20 Total Victims Identified
Additionally, Task Force members conducted two Illicit Massage Business Operations where 3 arrests were made and 5 potential victims were identified. Our members also recovered two children being commercially and sexually exploited on Figueroa track.
Your generous support enables Saving Innocence to remain a key player in the LA Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, not only helping to recover survivors, but also ensuring traffickers are held accountable. Arrests are being made, and prosecutions are underway to bring justice for these horrific crimes. Meanwhile, recovered survivors are receiving the care and support they need to heal and rebuild their lives.
Thank you for being a vital part of these victories in the fight against human trafficking and helping make our communities safer!