Agencies discuss child abuse, trafficking in Carson City
Agencies discuss child abuse, trafficking in Carson City Nevada Appeal
sdgtalks
Shining Light on Child Sexual Abuse, Exploitation and Human Trafficking
In a series of presentations hosted by Carson City Juvenile Services on July 11, the regional Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) unit addressed the city’s trends in prostitution, recruitment and grooming of victims, and social media.
Introduction to HEAT
HEAT, formed in January 2020 among Washoe County law enforcement agencies, investigates sex trafficking and pandering crimes and educates the public.
Trends in Carson City
Detectives Chris Johnson and Lexi Martinez highlighted the following trends in Carson City:
- Street level prostitution, although less frequent than before
- Solicitation of gamblers on casino floors
- Online sex purchasing and trafficking
Statistics
As of July 13, HEAT has made the following recoveries in 2023:
- 10 juvenile victim recoveries
- 27 adult recoveries
In 2022, there were 146 arrests, and in 2021, there were 72.
Online Sex Trafficking
Johnson mentioned that although the Federal Bureau of Investigations shut down the website Backpage, there is no authority to do the same for all illegal sex trafficking sites or recruiters.
Locations of Exploitation
Exploitation occurs in various locations, including:
- Residential brothels (separate from Nevada’s legal brothels)
- Weekly motels
- Airbnbs
The Role of Parents
Johnson emphasized the importance of parents being proactive with their children and educating them about not accepting messages from strangers. He stated that 80% of recruiting and grooming is done online.
Xquisite’s Mission
Xquisite Executive Director Brenda Sandquist and digital advocate and executive assistant Kassandra Butterfield discussed the organization’s mission to help survivors of sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, and domestic violence.
Assisting Child Victims
Carson City Sheriff’s Sgt. Brett Bindley explained the investigative process in assisting child victims, changes in behavior to look for at home after a traumatic event, and collecting evidence in a case. He emphasized the importance of being a good listener and not suggesting or inserting details into the victim’s account.
Support from Sexual Assault Response Advocates (SARA)
Bindley mentioned that when a criminal investigator receives a case, a representative from SARA is also notified to attend to the victim. Victims can request a sexual assault kit, which is a medical exam conducted by certified nurses to collect forensic evidence of rape.
Follow-up Support
Traci Trenoweth, Sexual Assault Response Advocates coordinator for Advocates to End Domestic Violence, highlighted the availability of counselors for follow-up and the training provided for advocates.
Conclusion
About 30 individuals attended the presentation held by the Department of Juvenile Services for Carson City and Storey County, according to juvenile outreach specialist Michelle Entz.
SDGs, Targets and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual exploitation | Indicator: Number of arrests made in relation to sex trafficking and pandering crimes |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor | Indicator: Number of juvenile and adult victim recoveries made by the Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) unit |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | Indicator: Number of arrests made in relation to sex trafficking and pandering crimes |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
The issues highlighted in the article are related to gender inequality, forced labor, human trafficking, and violence against children, which are all addressed by these SDGs.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual exploitation
- Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
The article discusses trends in prostitution, recruitment, and grooming of victims, as well as the prevalence of online sex purchasing and trafficking. These targets address the need to eliminate violence against women and girls, eradicate forced labor and human trafficking, and end abuse and exploitation of children.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of arrests made in relation to sex trafficking and pandering crimes
- Number of juvenile and adult victim recoveries made by the Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) unit
The article mentions the number of arrests made in relation to sex trafficking and pandering crimes, as well as the number of juvenile and adult victim recoveries made by the HEAT unit. These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the targets of eliminating violence against women and girls, eradicating forced labor and human trafficking, and ending abuse and exploitation of children.
4. SDGs, Targets and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual exploitation | Indicator: Number of arrests made in relation to sex trafficking and pandering crimes |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor | Indicator: Number of juvenile and adult victim recoveries made by the Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) unit |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | Indicator: Number of arrests made in relation to sex trafficking and pandering crimes |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: nevadaappeal.com
Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.
