Los Angeles County law enforcement agencies are using a combination of modern technology and old-school training to combat the sexual exploitation of children, according to a report released Tuesday by a county task force.
Hundreds of minors have been “rescued” from the industry over the last four years, while police and deputies crack down on would-be buyers in an attempt to stifle demand.
Efforts include targeting exploiters and buyers on the street and online, training all county employees to identify potential victims and expanding protocols that emphasize getting children access to helpful resources.
The shift toward recognizing minors as victims and surrounding them with life-saving services and support rather than criminalizing their behavior is evidenced by the county’s “first responder protocol.”
The protocol, which lays out the appropriate steps to take in the first 72 hours after authorities come into contact with a suspected victim, was adopted by the Los Angeles Police Department, Long Beach Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department by July 31.
Since the start of the protocol in August 2014, officers and deputies have helped rescue 518 minors, according to the latest available county data.
A crackdown on buyers and exploiters has been aided by technological advancements.
During the second quarter of this year, 194 individuals were contacted by law enforcement after agreeing to pay for sex with an undercover decoy online. A system using an internet robot or bot also reached out to 38 people who tried to buy sex online, aiming to scare predators straight by letting them know that police had captured their phone number and related information.
Through these online and street-level stings, 49 men were arrested for soliciting, including nine who were seeking sex with a minor.
The county is now training all of its employees in all departments to identify warning signs of sex trafficking, as a way of putting more eyes and ears in the community to help victims.
In June, the county began the Parent Empowerment Program, a series of 10 90-minute sessions to help parents understand the vulnerabilities that lead a child to become a victim of sex trafficking, why it’s hard for minors to leave exploitative relationships and strategies for parents to reconnect and build trust.
Speakers have included a survivor of sex trafficking, a social media expert and a LAPD representative.