Only in Multnomah County is a youth < 18 placed with a social service agency versus arrested. This is not a statewide policy, nor is it considered decriminalization. And even in Multco a youth can still be arrested if the judge warrents it. Most concerning is that any time a minor is picked up by the police for prostitution, they are cuffed and carted off in a police car. This is something that would never be done to a victim of child abuse, rape or exploitation.
The reputation of Portland being considered "Pornland" is just the media sensationalizing the latest hot topic. The focus needs to be on what we know. There are between 120 and 130 trafficked minors in DHS care at this time. Beyond that there are no statistics, because there is no money to track the data. Every effort must be made to have every police department track domestic and foreign born trafficking - labor and sexual exploitation of adults and youth. Only then will the right laws and support systems be put into place.
If you are <16 in CT, and NY you still get cuffed and treated like a criminal as you are given a so called "choice" to get into the less than 70 beds that are available in the US. And, if you are between 16 and 18 you may still be arrested, because that is still determined by the judge. In Washington State, you only get one chance. This is a ridiculous law, because the trauma that most youth have gone through requires a treatment program that they can come in and out of.
Another big hole in these Safe Harbor laws is that they are not holistic or comprehensive - and are not funde.
More Fair Trade Gift sites:
Global Exchange:http://globalexchange.org/, and Fair Trade Federation Gift Guide: http://ow.ly/3fU3p Corporate gifts available at:Equal Exchange: http://www.equalexchange.coop/ & Rivanna Designs: http://www.rivannadesigns.com/
Great ideas - and would also like to include links to Global Exchange:http://globalexchange.org/, Equal Exchange: http://www.equalexchange.coop/, Rivanna Designs: http://www.rivannadesigns.com/
and the Fair Trade Gift Guide: http://ow.ly/3fU3p NOTE: Equal Exchange & Rivanna Designs have corporate gifts available on their sites.
Thinking in terms of harm reduction and meeting people "where they are at" will do 2 things. It will get people working in the sex industry what they need, and if they are sex trafficking victims they will have a greater opportunity for protection. In addition, the organizations providing the health care and other services will most likely be having some conversation and possibly be building some trust so that more trafficking survivors will come forward on their own.
This is the most glib post you've had yet Amanda. If people reading this are new to the human trafficking issue they won't understand it at all. More content and less sarcasm please.
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