Escaping The Blade: KCRA 3 Investigates documentary details dire Sacramento sex trafficking problem

OR TO GO DO WHAT YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO DO. CALIFORNIA IS A HOTBED FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING. IT’S FRUSTRATING FOR ALL OF US IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER, FOR ME, FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. THAT WORKS VERY HARD ON THESE CASES. BUT IT’S MOST FRUSTRATING FOR THE VICTIMS RIGHT NOW. WHAT WE’RE DOING IS NOT WORKING, AND YOUNG GIRLS ARE BEING IMPACTED. OKAY. THANKS FOR EVERYBODY FOR COMING. UM, THIS WAS KIND OF A QUICK ONE THAT WE THREW TOGETHER. WE’RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON THE STOCKTON BOULEVARD CORRIDOR TODAY. OUR GOAL TODAY IS KIND OF MAX ENFORCE. IT’S A GROWING CRIME. IMAGINE A MCDONALD’S DRIVE THROUGH AND THAT’S WHAT THIS PARKING LOT WAS. IT WOULD BE BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. AND IT’S HAPPENING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES. IT’S A DIFFERENT WORLD, ISN’T IT? YES, ABSOLUTELY. YET MOST PEOPLE DON’T EVEN NOTICE IT. I WASN’T FULLY AWARE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE. WOMEN AND GIRLS SOLD FOR SEX. DROPPED OFF BY A VEHICLE. SHE GOT OUT. SHE’S IN SEE THROUGH FISHNETS. 19. I WAS 13 WHEN I WAS 12. 18. YOU MIGHT THINK THAT THEY’RE WORKING ALONE, BUT THEY’RE ACTUALLY BEING WATCHED. I COULDN’T COME HOME UNLESS I HAD $1,000 THAT NIGHT. THEIR CAPTORS, THEY THINK THAT THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS A JOKE. THE LAWS DO NOT WORK. THE ONLY PERSON THE LAW BENEFITS IS THE TRAFFICKER. HEY, STAY IN YOUR CAR. STAY IN YOUR CAR. SIMPLY WALKING FREE. THE LAW HAS NO TEETH. SACRAMENTO IS A HUB FOR SEX TRAFFICKING. 47TH AND STOCKTON STOCKTON BOULEVARD, RIGHT HERE GOT DROPPED OFF AT THE BLADE. THE BLADE? A BLADE. YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO RUN. AND IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEN WHO THE HELL IS GOING TO HELP YOU. OR THE OTHER PART DOING IT, DOING ONE OF THESE OPERATIONS? UNDERCOVER DETECTIVES HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE’RE CHASING EVERYTHING THAT RUNS. WE’RE GOING AFTER EVERYTHING. SO BE AS AGGRESSIVE AS YOU AS YOU WANT AND YOU KNOW HOW. AND WE WILL SMASH INTO THE NOT SO UNDERGROUND WORLD OF COMMERCIAL SEX HAPPENING ALONG A FOUR MILE STRETCH THAT CUTS RIGHT THROUGH THE HEART OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY. SO A BLADE IS CONSIDERED LIKE A ROADWAY OR A PUBLIC ROADWAY, THE WAY AT LEAST WE PHRASE IT IS PUBLIC ROADWAY COMMONLY UTILIZED FOR COMMERCIAL SEX WORK. UH, STOCKTON BOULEVARD BEING ONE OF THEM. USUALLY WE SEE IT BETWEEN STOCKTON BOULEVARD. IT’S USUALLY ABOUT FRUIT RIDGE TO LC. SACRAMENTO IS A SEX TRAFFICKING HOTSPOT. THAT’S ME. DOCO. WE’RE PULLING UP RIGHT NOW. WHY ARE YOU OUT HERE DRESSED IN FISHNETS WITH YOURSELF COMPLETELY EXPOSED, WITH THREE CONDOMS? JUST WALKING. YOU’RE JUST WALKING LIKE THAT. OKAY, I’M TALKING ABOUT YOUR MIND FRAME AS TO WHY YOU WOULD BE OUT HERE. I’M NOT BEING. AM I GOING TO JAIL? I DON’T NEED TO. YEAH, OKAY. IT’S CLEAR SHE’S WORKING AT. AND SHE’S NOT WILLING TO COOPERATE WITH US. UH, SHE DOESN’T WANT ANY RESOURCES, AND SHE WANTS TO DENY ANY INVOLVEMENT WITH A POTENTIAL TRAFFICKER. IS THAT YOUR RIDE? THE GUYS THAT ARE CAUGHT OVER THERE. I DIDN’T COME HERE WITH ANYONE. OKAY, THAT’S FINE. THEN WE ARE GOING TO BE SEIZING YOUR PHONE. OKAY? I CAN’T GO THROUGH IT, THOUGH. I’M GOING TO WRITE A SEARCH WARRANT INTO IT, AND THEN I’LL GO THROUGH IT. IF YOU ARE BEING TRAFFICKED, WE WANT TO FIND OUT WHO IT IS SO WE CAN BASICALLY MAKE THEM SEEK JUSTICE. AND FOR THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE, EVEN AS THEIR ENFORCEMENT GROWS LIKE IT LITERALLY WILL GIVE IT ANOTHER 20 MINUTES, 30 MINUTES, AND WE’LL ALL BE OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND THEY WILL ALL COME BACK. SO DOES THEIR FRUSTRATION. WE HAVE YOUNG GIRLS THAT ARE 12 AND 14 YEARS OLD. WHETHER IT’S WINTER OR SUMMER, THEY’RE WEARING A BRA AND PANTIES AND SOMETIMES JUST PANTIES OR NOTHING. WE’RE IN AMERICA. IS THAT ACCEPTABLE? WHY IS IT OKAY HERE IN CALIFORNIA? THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE JUST TRIED TO CONTACT THE SEX WORKER. SHE WALKED AWAY FROM THE CAR. ALL RIGHT, SO WE’RE GONNA DO A VEHICLE STOP ON THIS CAR. EVERYBODY WANTS THE TRAFFICKER THAT IS A GOLDEN GOOSE. YOU GET THEM. BUT THOSE ARRESTS ARE FEW AND FAR IN BETWEEN. AND THAT’S REALLY THE ISSUE WE WANT TO DEAL WITH. WE WANT TO HELP THE GIRLS. AND A LOT OF THE GIRLS ARE AFRAID TO GET OUT OF IT. IF THEY GET OUT OF IT, THEY GO RIGHT BACK INTO IT BECAUSE THESE TRAFFICKERS HAVE SO MUCH INFLUENCE OVER THE GIRLS, AND THEY’RE AFRAID. OCCUPIED. HEY, STAY IN YOUR CAR. STAY IN YOUR CAR. HANDS. THERE’S NOTHING THAT STANDS OUT ABOUT THIS UNASSUMING BUILDING IN SACRAMENTO’S OAK PARK. IF YOU WERE TO DRIVE BY, YOU’D HAVE NO IDEA THE IMPACT THAT WE’RE HAVING ON THE COMMUNITY AND HOW MANY LIVES ARE CHANGED IN THIS VERY BUILDING. BUT THIS IS SAWANTVADI SECOND HOME. YEAH. UNFORTUNATELY. AND IT’S HERE WHERE SHE AND HER STAFF ARE MAKING A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. YEAH, THERE’S A LOT GOING ON. BADEN IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AGAINST SEXUAL HARM, BETTER KNOWN AS KASH, A NONPROFIT CREATED TO HELP VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING. ANY PERSON, WOMAN OR PERSON WHO IDENTIFIES AS A WOMAN THAT HAS EXPERIENCED IN EXPLOITATION AT ANY POINT IN THEIR LIVES, CAN RECEIVE SERVICES HERE. CASH OFFERS WARM CLOTHING, MEDICAL CHECKUPS AND CHILDCARE. ABOUT 20 PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY ACCESSED THE CLOTHES CLOSET FOR THE KIDS AND ON ANY GIVEN DAY, BADEN NEVER KNOWS WHO WILL WALK THROUGH THE DOOR. THIS FIRST ONE IS MY VERY FIRST MUG SHOT AT 18 YEARS OF AGE. I JUST PICKED OUT SOME THAT JUST SHOWED THE PROGRESSION OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. WOMEN ARRIVE USUALLY IN THE DARKEST OF PLACES. I JUST HAD A BABY AFTER, UM, HIGH SCHOOL, OFTEN TURNING TO PROSTITUTION AS A LAST RESORT, AND I WAS JUST IN THAT SPACE OF, LIKE, SURVIVAL DESPERATION FOR ME. AND MY SON. OTHERS PICKED UP RIGHT OFF THE STREET. I REMEMBER I USED TO WALK TO SCHOOL OFF ANTELOPE ROAD. I KNOW NOW WHAT THAT MEANS. THERE WAS ALWAYS CONDOMS OVER THAT -- OVERPASS. I WENT TO MESA VERDE. I WENT TO GRAND OAKS ELEMENTARY, ALMOST EVERY DAY SOMEONE WOULD TRY TO PULL OVER AND ASK US IF WE WANTED A RIDE, AND THAT’S ON ANTELOPE ROAD. HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM IS IT IN THIS REGION? IN THIS AREA, I WENT ALL THESE PLACES AND NEVER REALLY NOTICED WHAT WAS GOING ON. AND I THINK THAT’S THE SCARY PART ABOUT IT IS BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T KNOW, YOU DON’T KNOW. UM, AND I KNOW IT’S ANY AGE, IT’S, IT’S SUPER PREVALENT IN SACRAMENTO, ESPECIALLY WHEN I SOLD SEX IN THE EARLY 2000 HERE ON BROADWAY. UM, IT WAS LIKE WE WOULD WHAT STICKS OUT IS LIKE THIS. THE SISTERHOOD, SO TO SPEAK. LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, DON’T DATE THE GUY IN THE GREEN TRUCK BECAUSE THEY DID THIS TO ME OR THAT TO ME OR BEING ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH THE NEXT WOMAN, AND THEN HER GOING IN THAT TRUCK AND THEN NOT COMING BACK. THAT’S WHAT STICKS OUT TO ME, IS THE FRIENDS THAT I’VE LOST A LOT OF THEM. YEAH, YEAH, A LOT OF THEM. ALL THESE YEARS LATER, LITTLE HAS CHANGED. CASH ESTIMATES BETWEEN 2015 AND 2020, THERE WERE 13,000 VICTIMS TRAFFICKED FOR SEX IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY ALONE. I HAD ATTEMPTED A FEW TIMES TO ESCAPE. THAT INCLUDES EMILIE SANDERS, WHO LIVED THROUGH A THREE YEAR NIGHTMARE. A MAN SHE LOVED FORCED HER TO SELL SEX WHEN HE ABANDONED ME OUT ON THE STREET WHEN I WAS EIGHT AND A HALF MONTHS PREGNANT, HE DROPPED ME OFF, IN FACT, WILL BE, I BELIEVE, PASSING BY THE CAR WASH IN WHICH HE DROPPED ME OFF AT AND I CALLED 911. IT WAS ONLY AFTER SANDERS SOUGHT SUPPORT. SHE TOO, LEARNED SHE WAS A TRAFFICKING VICTIM. WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF IS I’M IN CHAINS. YOU SEE THE PICTURES HELP ME. WOMAN CRYING IN A CORNER. SO I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS DEFINED AS AND WHAT I COULD JUST DEFINE IS THAT I WAS IN THIS IN LOVE WITH SOMEBODY WHO SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS TEMPORARILY, BUT NOW IT’S A MUST. THERE’S CERTAIN RULES AND THINGS ON THE STREET THAT PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE. GUYS, YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO LOOK AT OTHER PIMPS, YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO CONVERSATE WITH OTHER PIMPS, AND YOU BETTER BE DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOUR PIMP KNOWS YOU’RE DOING. IT’S IT’S A SCARY AND SAD GAME THAT’S BEING PLAYED OUT THERE ON THE STREETS RIGHT NOW. IT’S A PROBLEM EVERYONE WANTS TO FIX, BUT NOT EVERYONE AGREES ON HOW WE INTRODUCED SB 14 MADE IT A SERIOUS FELONY, SO IT WOULD BE A STRIKING OFFENSE FOR THOSE THAT SELL MINORS 0 TO 17 FOR SEX. A KEY COMMITTEE IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY IS FACING INTENSE SCRUTINY TONIGHT FOR BLOCKING A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED CHILD SEX TRAFFICKERS FROM BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON EARLY LAST YEAR. THAT BATTLE WAS ON FULL DISPLAY. THERE WAS PUBLIC OUTRAGE, THERE WAS SERIOUS POLITICAL BLOWBACK, STATE SENATOR SHANNON GROVE PROPOSED SELLING A CHILD FOR SEX, BECOME A SERIOUS FELONY AND A LIKABLE OFFENSE SEEMED LIKE A SURE THING. IF YOU WERE TO ASK CALIFORNIANS, DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN OR INDEPENDENT, IF SEX TRAFFICKING A MINOR SHOULD BE A SERIOUS FELONY IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, I CAN PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE THAT ALMOST EVERYONE WOULD SAY YES. IT TURNED OUT THE BILL WAS ANYTHING BUT. SURE, JOHN SAWYER NOT VOTING ALANIS BONTA, BRIAN BRIAN NOT VOTING LACKEY PROUDLY. I LACKEY I ORTEGA ORTEGA NOT VOTING SANTIAGO SABER NOT VOTING. HOW HOW CAN IT BE CONTROVERSIAL ALL THAT WE WANT TO HOLD SEX TRAFFICKERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR TRAFFICKING ING OUR CHILDREN. I DON’T THINK YOU REALIZE YOU MAY HAVE ALSO OPENED UP A CAN OF WORMS WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE GETTING OUT SOONER THAN THEY SHOULD. THE SEX TRAFFICKING AND KIDNAPING AND RAPE. HOW LONG WAS HE IN PRISON? TWO YEARS. HE GOT RIGHT BACK OUT. CONTINUE CALLING ME. HE LITERALLY CALLED MY MESSENGER FOR 50 TIMES STRAIGHT WITHOUT GIVING IT A BREAK. LIKE. IT’S BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE ALEXIS KING WAS FORCED TO SELL HER BODY FOR SEX, THOUGH IT STILL FOLLOWS HER AROUND TODAY. I TAKE THE BUS HERE AND AT THE BUS STOP. I HAD THREE GUYS PULL OVER EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM WANTED A DATE. IT’S SO EASY FOR IT TO NEVER LEAVE YOU BECAUSE IT’S ALWAYS LIKE GOING TO BE THERE. KING FOUND SALVATION AT CITY OF REFUGE IN OAK PARK. SHE NOW WORKS THERE HELPING OTHERS WHO AREN’T SO FORTUNATE. IT’S SO OFTEN IT’S MORE SO. ALL OF THE PEOPLE LOOKING TO PAY FOR THE GIRLS THAN IT IS ANYTHING AT THIS POINT. KING WAS ONLY 15 WHEN SHE WAS FIRST PICKED UP ON DEL PASO BOULEVARD. A GUY IN A DOCTOR SUIT. HE HAD PULLED UP. I WAS PASSING A LIQUOR STORE. HE HAD PULLED UP AND HE WAS JUST LIKE, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE SOME MONEY? EVENTUALLY, SHE STARTED HANDING HER MONEY OVER TO A PIMP. YOU’RE TRYING TO MEET YOUR QUOTA BY THE END OF THE NIGHT, SO YOU START TAKING ANYTHING. SO THEN THAT’S WHEN IT TURNS. REALLY INTO A LOT OF OF OF GUYS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. BECAUSE IT’S LIKE, OKAY, YOU GOT 20. LIKE, I’M GOING TO TAKE IT ALL BECAUSE I NEED TO GO HOME TONIGHT. I NEED TO HURRY UP AND AND GET HIM HIS MONEY. EVEN AFTER HER TRAFFICKER WAS CONVICTED, SHE FOUND SHE WAS NEVER REALLY FREE. HE WAS IN PRISON FOR TWO YEARS. AS SOON AS HE GOT OUT OF PRISON THIS YEAR, APRIL. THE FIRST MESSAGE I GET IS FROM HIM. AND I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. HE’S GOING TO FIND ME. IT’S ALWAYS THAT THEY THE FEAR OF BEING FOUND OR HAVING TO GO BACK BECAUSE ONCE THEY FIND YOU, YOU’RE LIKE, I’M DONE RUNNING. MOST TRAFFICKERS IN CALIFORNIA ARE LET OUT OF PRISON EARLY. IT’S PART OF THE REASON SHANNON GROVE WROTE SB 14. BUT DURING THOSE HEARINGS, IT BECAME APPARENT NOT EVERYONE WAS AWARE. WITH THE GOOD TIME CREDITS AND ALL THE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, THEY HAVE A DISCOUNTED TIME IN PRISON. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING OUT THAT SHOULD NEVER GET OUT EARLY BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DID. YOU’VE ALERTED ME TO SOMETHING THAT I DIDN’T THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT. GOOD MORNING. UM, LET ME ASK YOU FIRST. WHERE ARE YOU CURRENTLY EMPLOYED? COURTNEY MARTIN IS ONE OF TWO SACRAMENTO COUNTY DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSIGNED TO PROSECUTE SEX TRAFFICKERS. SHE SAYS IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, HER CASELOAD HAS TRIPLED. WE’VE ALSO INTERVIEWED SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED TRAFFICKERS. MARTIN AND HER TEAM ARE GETTING MORE CONVICTIONS. BUT SHE SAYS OFTEN THOSE SENTENCES HANDED DOWN JUST DON’T STICK. THERE IS THIS EARLY RELEASE THAT’S HAPPENING FROM PRISON, BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HAS SIGNIFICANT, UH, POWER TO DECIDE HOW LONG A PERSON SERVES OF THEIR SENTENCE. AND BECAUSE OF COVID AND SOME OTHER POLICY CHANGES, UM, DEFENDANTS ARE SERVING A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF THE SENTENCE TIME THAT THEY ARE GIVEN BY A JUDGE. KCRA INVESTIGATES, PUT IN A RECORDS REQUEST WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. IN 2022, 246 INMATES WHO WERE IN PRISON FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PIMPING OR PANDERING WERE RELEASED. OF ALL THOSE INMATES, THE NUMBER THAT SERVED A FULL SENTENCE ONLY TWO OF THOSE CHARGED WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF A MINOR, WHICH CARRIES A SENTENCE UP TO 12 YEARS. THE AVERAGE TIME SERVED FOUR YEARS AND FIVE MONTHS. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DO HAVE A VICTIM WHO’S COOPERATIVE, WHO WANTS TO SEE THE PERSON WHO VICTIMIZE THEM HELD ACCOUNTABLE, WE HAVE TO TELL THEM, YOU KNOW, THEY’RE GOING TO GO TO PRISON. YOU JUST HEARD THE JUDGE ANNOUNCE THIS SENTENCE, BUT YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT’S NOT HOW LONG THEY’RE GOING TO GO TO PRISON. IN FACT, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE POLICY HAS CHANGED, WE OFTEN DON’T KNOW HOW LONG THE DEFENDANT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO SERVE. IT’S TOUGH. YOU KNOW, I GUESS 25 YEARS AS A COP, I GET GOOD AT IT. COMPARTMENTALIZING IT. SACRAMENTO POLICE DETECTIVE JASON COLLINS DOESN’T HAVE TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW LONG SUSPECTS ARE STAYING IN PRISON. HE SIMPLY FOCUSED ON SENDING THEM THERE. THE GUY ASKS IF I’M AVAILABLE. I’M THE OUTGOING MESSAGE. SURE. MOST OF HIS TIME SPENT SIFTING THROUGH MESSAGES. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? HE SAYS, FS, WHICH IS AN ACRONYM FOR FULL SERVICE, WHICH MEANS LIKE BASICALLY FULL SEXUAL RELATIONS. ASK FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ASK FOR SEND A PICTURE. AND THEN EVENTUALLY THAT’S WHERE, UM, WE EVENTUALLY THIS PERSON SHOWED UP. OTHER TIMES WE GO, GO OUT AND DO OPERATIONS UNDERCOVER, UM, DEALS WHERE WE’RE CHATTING, WHERE WE’RE TRYING TO RECOVER JUVENILES. WHEN THE VICTIM SHOWS UP AT THE DOOR, WE’LL HAVE AN UNDERCOVER OFFICER ANSWER THE DOOR. AND THEN WHEN SHE COMES IN, THE OFFICER WILL COME AROUND AND AND DETAIN HER. AND THEN, UH, WHILE THAT’S GOING ON, UM, IF SHE WAS BOUGHT BY A TRAFFICKER, THEN WE’D BE DEALING WITH THAT ON THE OUTSIDE. COLLINS, ALONG WITH FELLOW DETECTIVES, POSES AS MALE SEX BUYERS LOOKING TO LURE IN TEENAGE GIRLS PRETTY AS SIMPLE AS IT GETS. HI. ARE YOU AVAILABLE? YES. UH. ARE YOU HALF HOUR ALCOHOL? OKAY. DO YOU HAVE 200? YES. OKAY. GREAT. ARE YOU LAW ENFORCEMENT? NO. ARE YOU. NO. AND THEY’RE HOPING THE GIRLS DON’T ARRIVE ALONE. TYPICALLY, IF A GIRL SHOWS UP, THEY’RE BROUGHT THERE BY THEIR TRAFFICKER. I HAVE 148 TO THE SURVEILLANCE UNITS. UH, WE JUST HAD ONE TEXT THAT SHE’S CLOSE, SO IF YOU’RE OUT AND ABOUT, GET SET UP. KIND OF SLOW ROLLED BY THE HOUSE AND IT’S PARKING AROUND THE CORNER, IT LOOKS LIKE. STEP OUT. YEAH. HI, YOUNG LADY. MY NAME IS JASON. I’M A DETECTIVE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INSIDE THE VICTIMS ARE OFFERED HELP. YOU’RE NOT UNDER ARREST. OKAY? I’M NOT HERE TO MAKE A CASE AGAINST YOU, OKAY? WE’RE DOING A HUMAN TRAFFICKING STING, AND OUTSIDE OFFICERS GET WHAT THEY’RE LOOKING FOR HERE. THIS GUY HAS A HISTORY OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND SO. RIGHT NOW, WE’RE JUST TRYING TO CONNECT THE DOTS TO, YOU KNOW, SEE IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE ARREST ANOTHER SUSPECT WITH A HISTORY OF TRAFFICKING BACK IN THE GAME. COME ON, MAN, IT’S A STING OPERATION. SHE’S BEEN TALKING TO AN UNDERCOVER OFFICER. YOU GUYS ROLLED UP. YOU GOT CAUGHT UP IN THE STING. AT THIS POINT, I’M PRETTY CONFIDENT WE’RE GOING TO DOWNLOAD YOUR PHONE. I’M GOING TO FIND THINGS IN HERE THAT YOU ARE STILL PIMPING THEM OUT. JODY. NATIONAL IS NO STRANGER TO PIMPING. TWICE SENTENCED FOR THE CRIME FOR A TOTAL OF 11 YEARS. HOWEVER, HE SERVED ONLY A FRACTION OF BOTH PRISON TERMS. YOU’RE REFUSING TO OWN UP TO YOUR MISTAKES AS A 30 YEAR OLD MAN. YOU’RE NOT A KID ANYMORE, DUDE. AFTER THIS ARREST, HE PLEADED GUILTY AND WAS SENTENCED TO NEARLY NINE YEARS. BUT ONCE AGAIN, HE COULD EARN HIS WAY OUT TO AN EARLY RELEASE. I KNOW THE ARGUMENT AGAINST IS THAT YOU NO LONGER. PENALTIES DON’T DETER CRIMES, BUT MY ARGUMENT WOULD BE, WELL, YOU NO LONGER SENTENCING KEEPS THAT PARTICULAR PERSON FROM VICTIMIZING MORE PEOPLE DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE OUR TRAFFICKERS NEVER REALLY HAVE DONE IT JUST ONCE. THEY’VE MOST OF THE TIME IN THE CASES THAT I’VE SEEN OVER TIME, THE TRAFFICKER HAS HAD MULTIPLE VICTIMS WORKING FOR THEM AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER. YEAH, CAN DO IT AS CULVERT ESCALON. I TOLD HIM, YOU KNOW WHO MY MOM WAS AND I OVERHEARD, YOU KNOW, THE OFFICER SAY, THIS IS A SEX TRAFFICKING CASE. AND WHY WOULD YOU SELL YOUR DAUGHTER TO A POLICE OFFICER? DID YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT WHY A 12 YEAR OLD CHILD WOULD BE STRUNG OUT ON DRUGS AND PROSTITUTING. HOLD ON. I SEE AN ORANGE ROSE. JEANETTE DIAZ IS REDISCOVERING THE BEAUTY IN LIFE. ROSES SYMBOLIZE NEW BEGINNINGS TO ME. I ACTUALLY HAVE IT TATTOOED RIGHT HERE. AND TO ME, I WAS ONE OF THESE LITTLE THINGS. WELL, SMALLER THAN THIS. I WAS ONE OF THESE THINGS RIGHT HERE. AND I BLOOMED INTO A VERY BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING PERSON. DIAZ FOUND OUT IN AN EARLY AGE THAT LIFE IS TOUGH. HER MOTHER WAS A DRUG ADDICT AND PROSTITUTE, UNABLE TO CARE FOR HER. I GOT TAKEN AWAY AT FIVE AND I WAS BOUNCED AROUND TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT FOSTER HOMES. SHE EVENTUALLY SET OUT TO FIND SOMEONE SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD TRUST. I WENT TO GO FIND MY MOM WHEN I WAS 12 ON STOCKTON AND FRUITRIDGE ROAD, AND I DID FIND HER. SHE SAYS. HER OWN MOTHER SOLD HER FOR SEX. MY MOM PUT A BLINDFOLD ON ME AND SHE SAID JUST TO LAY THERE. AND ALL I REMEMBER IS TAKING IT OFF AND STARING AT MY MOM. WATCH ME GET RAPED AND NOT PROTECTING ME. I DIDN’T KNOW THAT ALL THAT WAS BAD AT FIRST. SHE WAS GROOMING ME AND JUST TELLING ME LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS WILL HELP MOM BE ABLE TO GET BETTER AND GET YOU GUYS BACK. SO IN A WAY, LIKE I WAS BEING TOLD, I’M HELPING YOU TO GET YOUR KIDS BACK BECAUSE I WANT TO BE BACK WITH YOU. I DIDN’T REALLY REALIZE IT UNTIL SHE WAS SELLING ME TO AN UNDERCOVER POLICE OFFICER ON STOCKTON BOULEVARD. WHEN THEY ASKED ME WHO MY MOM WAS AND ME. I’M A 12 YEAR OLD. I’VE NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE BY THE POLICE OR ANYTHING. I TOLD HIM, YOU KNOW WHO MY MOM WAS, AND I OVERHEARD, YOU KNOW, THE OFFICER SAY, THIS IS A SEX TRAFFICKING CASE, AND WHY WOULD YOU SELL YOUR DAUGHTER TO A POLICE OFFICER FOR IT REALLY HAS BEEN. AND LIKE, I’M CRYING, BUT I’M HEALED. YOU KNOW, LIKE, I GET HEALING THROUGH DOING THINGS LIKE THIS BECAUSE. BECAUSE PEOPLE DON’T SPEAK ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, VERY OFTEN THE HEALING ONLY BEGAN AFTER JEANETTE FOUND SOMEONE SHE COULD TRULY COUNT ON A LOT OF US, AS CHILDREN JUST WANTED SOMEBODY. LIKE, IF MAGGIE WAS IN MY LIFE WHEN I WAS A KID, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN SAVED A LONG TIME AGO. I FIRST MET JEANETTE. I WANT TO SAY 11 YEARS AGO, 11 OR 12 YEARS AGO. MAGGIE CARROLL IS A STATE PROSECUTOR WHO IS CREDITED WITH TAKING DOWN BACKPAGE, A COMMON SEX TRAFFICKING WEBSITE. SHE’S ALSO THE ONE HELPING TO REBUILD DIAZ’S LIFE. I THINK SHE WAS FACING A LOT OF THE TRAUMA THAT I’VE SEEN IN OTHER SURVIVORS. MANY OF THE VICTIMS, EITHER THEY WERE SEXUALLY ABUSED OR SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AS A CHILD AND OR THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, SOLD AS SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS. YOU KNOW, AS A YOUNG TEENAGER, GIRLS NOW FOCUSED ON PROTECTING OTHER TEENS. WE SEE A LOT OF CHILDREN, UNFORTUNATELY, OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. IT’S A MAJOR PROBLEM IN SACRAMENTO. IT’S A MAJOR PROBLEM. I MEAN, WE HAVE FAR TOO MANY MINORS WHO ARE OUT THERE AND TOO MANY YOUNG WOMEN WHO DON’T HAVE OTHER CHOICES, WHO ARE STUCK OUT THERE. IT’S EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND AND YEAH, I MEAN, IT’S A PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN, NEARLY 29,000 CHILDREN WERE REPORTED MISSING IN THE U.S. LAST YEAR. ONE OUT OF EVERY SIX OF THOSE ARE NOW LIKELY VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING. THE SOLUTION IS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WHERE THE MINORS WANT TO BE AND CREATE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THESE KIDS HAVE A CHANCE TO THRIVE. SACRAMENTO COUNTY’S FOSTER CARE SYSTEM HAS BEEN WROUGHT WITH COMPLAINTS FOR YEARS, AND NOW WE’VE LEARNED YOUTH WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN ABUSED AND TRAUMATIZED ARE BEING HOUSED AT A FORMER JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, A JAIL, A PLACE TO THRIVE CAN BE HARD TO COME BY FOR SACRAMENTO’S YOUTH. LAST YEAR, A KCRA 3 INVESTIGATION REVEALED CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE AND CPS CUSTODY WERE BEING TAKEN HERE TO THE WARREN THORNTON OR WET CENTER. OUR INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED UNDERAGE DRINKING AND ILLEGAL DRUG USE AND SEX TRAFFICKING. YOUTH LIVED IN CELLS, SLEPT ON METAL FRAME BEDS NEXT TO METAL TOILETS, COVERED UP WITH WOODEN BOXES. FOLLOWING OUR INVESTIGATION, THE CENTER CLOSED, BUT THE STREETS ARE STILL WIDE OPEN. SOMETIMES WE’LL RECOVER A JUVENILE AND THEY’LL BE BACK OUT ON THE STREETS IN FIVE TEN MINUTES AFTER WE DROP THEM OFF, COLLINS SAYS. IT’S JUST ONE PART OF A BROKEN SYSTEM, LEAVING VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND TEENS TO SEEK SAFETY WITH DANGEROUS TRAFFICKERS IS A LOT OF OUR VICTIMS COME FROM BROKEN BACKGROUNDS, RIGHT? OR THEY GROW UP IN THE FOSTER SYSTEM AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST MOTIVATORS THAT I SEE IS THAT THE VICTIMS HAVE THIS KIND OF DEEP ROOTED NEED FOR LOVE AND AFFECTION AND, AND THESE TRAFFIC MEYERS KNOW HOW TO EXPLOIT THAT. A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK, THERE WAS A LAW THAT PASSED THAT SAID THAT THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A CHILD PROSTITUTE. AND SO THEY’RE NO LONGER TAKING CHILDREN THAT ARE BEING FOUND IN THESE EXPLOITIVE SITUATIONS, UM, TO JUVENILE HALL. THE RECEIVING HOME HAS NO LOCKED DOORS. THEY CAN’T HOLD THE DEMANDS. IT LEAVES THE CHILDREN RELATIVELY ON THE STREETS. RIGHT. BECAUSE IF THEY’RE NOT IN A POSITION WHERE THEY CAN STAY OR IN THAT MIND SPACE TO STAY, THEY’RE JUST GOING RIGHT BACK OUT TO THEIR TRAFFICKERS. WHEN THAT LAW WAS CHANGED, WHICH WAS A RIGHT THING TO DO, THERE WAS NO AND THEN WHAT PUT IN PLACE. SO THEORETICALLY, YOU COULD HAVE THE TRAFFICKERS PULL RIGHT UP TO THAT CENTER BASICALLY. YEAH. CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS IN THE ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TODAY BLOCKED A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE DEFINED HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF A CHILD AS SERIOUS FELONY. IT SEEMED LIKE A SURE THING. BUT AFTER PASSING THE STATE SENATE, CALIFORNIA CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING BILL CAME TO A HALT. I MEAN, I’M TALKING 0 TO 17, WHERE THE AVERAGE AGE IS TEN, AND THEY WOULD NOT PASS THIS BILL. SIX DEMOCRATS SAT ON THE ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. NONE ONE BACKED SB 14. ALL EVIDENCE HAS SHOWN THAT LONGER SENTENCES DON’T ACTUALLY STOP THINGS FROM HAPPENING. INSTEAD OF INVESTING THE RESOURCES TO TAKE AWAY THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES IN THESE KINDS OF ILLICIT MARKETS, WE INVEST ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES IN. OUR $15 BILLION PLUS PRISON INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SO I CAN’T GET THERE TODAY. THE BILL APPEARED TO BE DEAD ON ARRIVAL UNTIL AN UNEXPECTED MOMENT DURING AN UNRELATED NEWS CONFERENCE JUST TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON ANOTHER OFF TOPIC, UH, SITUATION YESTERDAY, THERE’S SOME BIPARTISAN FRUSTRATION WITH HOW A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE CLASSIFIED CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING AS A SERIOUS FELONY. YEAH, I DIED IN THE ASSEMBLY. THAT ONE QUESTION COMING FROM KCRA CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT ASHLEY ZAVALA CAUSED SOMETHING RARELY SEEN IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY. AND HE RESPONDED, I BELIEVE SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF. ABSOLUTELY. AND I’VE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO SENATOR GROVE. I APPRECIATE SENATOR GROVE’S EFFORTS ON THIS. AND AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE SHE KNEW THAT TODAY. AND WE’LL BE FOLLOWING UP AND WE’LL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT THAT VERY SHORTLY. HE CALLED. HE SAID, I’M DISAPPOINTED. DID I GO? ME TOO. AND HE WAS LIKE, I’M ENGAGING. I’M LIKE, ENGAGE AWAY, SIR. I’VE NEVER SEEN THIS SCENARIO HAPPEN. IT WAS SO RARE FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SO PUBLICLY SUPPORT A REPUBLICANS PROPOSAL AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROPOSAL WAS GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE FINISH LINE BEFORE THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AND IT DID. DECISION. FOLLOWING INTENSE PRESSURE FROM STATE LEADERS AND PUBLIC OUTRAGE, A KEY GROUP OF LAWMAKERS CHANGING THEIR MINDS TODAY ON A PROPOSED CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING LAW. TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT INITIAL VOTE AND WITH THE TIDE CLEARLY ON SB 14 SIDE, ANOTHER VOTE WAS IN ORDER. ALL DEBATE HAVING CEASED. THIS MEASURE IS ELIGIBLE FOR A UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL. THIS TIME IT PASSED C9 AYES 39, NO ZERO. CONGRATULATIONS, SENATOR GROVE, FOR GETTING YOUR LEGISLATION TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK. I THANK THE MEDIA FOR ENGAGING THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF CALIFORNIANS THAT ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS. AND I THINK THEY PULLED BACK THE CURTAIN JUST A LITTLE BIT. SB 14 WENT INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST, AND WITHOUT ASHLEY ZAVALA AT A GOVERNOR’S PRESS CONFERENCE IN BEIJING. THE GOVERNOR ON THAT CONVERSATION, THAT BILL WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN HEARD OF AGAIN. HOW RARE IS THAT? OH, I DON’T THINK IT HADN’T HAPPENED IN 25 YEARS. IT LOOKS LIKE HE’S BEEN OUT OF PRISON FOR JUST A FEW MONTHS NOW, AND HE’S ALREADY BACK HERE TRYING TO AGAIN, TALK TO SEX WORKERS. I HAVE A MESSAGE FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRAFFICKED CHILDREN IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA LEAVE. LEAVE NOW. WHEN THE POLICE BRING YOU INTO THE COURTHOUSE GATES, WE WILL BE READY. FOUR MONTHS AFTER SB 14 BECAME LAW, COURTNEY MARTIN WAS IN THE COURTROOM TAKING IT FOR A TEST DRIVE. THE FIRST SUCH TRIAL IN THE STATE. HOW DIFFICULT OR EASY IS IT FOR HIM TO RECRUIT A SEX WORKER? PROSECUTORS SAY XAVIER COLLINS WAS SELLING A 15 YEAR OLD FOR SEX AFTER FOUR WEEKS OF TESTIMONY AND TWO DAYS OF DELIBERATIONS, WE, THE JURY IN THE ABOVE ENTITLED CAUSE, FIND THE DEFENDANT XAVIER A2 COLLINS, GUILTY OF THE CRIME OF CAUSING A MINOR TO ENGAGE IN A COMMERCIAL SEX ACT. ADVOCATES SAY IT’S A BIG STEP TO HELP ELIMINATING THE PROBLEM, BUT IT’S ONLY A FIRST STEP IN WHAT IS PROVING TO BE AN EXTREMELY LONG JOURNEY. THE ONLY WAY THAT THERE WILL BE A DECREASE IN TRAFFICKING IN SACRAMENTO IS IF WE FOCUS ON PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM BECOMING BUYERS. THE REASON WHY THERE ARE CHILDREN FOR SALE IS BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING TO DEVOUR AND PURCHASE CHILDREN, AND WOMEN. OCCUPIED. HEY, STAY IN YOUR CAR. STAY IN YOUR CAR. HANDS. WHAT’S UP WITH THE GIRLS YOU WERE YELLING AT OVER AT, UH, HOBART? BRO, I WAS BEHIND YOU. I SAW YOU, I SAW YOU HOLLERING ABOUT THE CHICKS. THERE’S NO REASON TO BE ON PAROLE. BE A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ROLLING INTO A PARKING LOT THAT’S KNOWN FOR COMMERCIAL SEX TRAFFICKING. MANY BELIEVE STOPPING TRAFFICKING STARTS WITH STOPPING DEMAND. THAT INCLUDES THIS SUSPECT WITH A PAST CONVICTION FOR SELLING WOMEN. YOU’RE GIVING THE GUY THAT’S WITH THE 13 YEAR OLD, 40 YEARS, BUT YOU’RE NOT GIVING THE GUY THAT. AND PICKING UP THE 1413 YEAR OLD LIFE. YOU’RE NOT GIVING HIM NOTHING. SO LET ME LET ME ASK YOU THIS. I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU HUMAN TRAFFICKING PEOPLE ARE OUT HERE FOR. THEN GIVE ME THE INFORMATION SO I CAN GO HAMMER THOSE DUDES GIVE YOU IT IF YOU WANT TO STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND LITTLE GIRLS BEING PUT UP AND DOWN THESE STREETS. IF YOU WANT TO REALLY STOP THAT, YOU ARREST TRICKS, YOU ARREST WHO DEMANDS IT. YOU DON’T ARREST WHO SELLS IT BECAUSE WHOEVER SELLS IT, THEY CANNOT SELL IT. ARE THEY BUSINESSMAN? UNLESS THE PERSON THAT BUYS IT? THAT’S THE PROBLEM TOO. YOU DON’T GRAB THE REST. YOU GRAB THE REST OF THE STUFF. WE’RE NOT GONNA. OKAY. THANK YOU. I’M GLAD YOU CAN HEAR ME NOW. A LITTLE BIT. CALIFORNIA IS A HOTBED FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING. AND WITH THE PASSAGE OF SB 1414, WE WANT TO SEND A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE THAT NOT ONE MORE CHILD, NOT ONE MORE CHILD WILL BE SOLD OR SUFFER AT THE HANDS OF THOSE THAT SEEK TO EXPLOIT OUR CHILDREN ON THE SUCCESS OF SB 14, GROVE IS NOW GOING AFTER THE BUYERS, INTRODUCING A NEW BILL, SB 1414, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT A FELONY TO PURCHASE SEX WITH A MINOR. THE MESSAGE IS, IS THAT IT TAKES TWO TO FACILITATE A MINOR A SEXUAL A SEXUAL ACTIVITY FOR A MINOR, THE SELLER AND THE BUYER. WE ADDRESS THE SELLER LAST YEAR. WE’RE ADDRESSING THE BUYER. THIS YEAR I MYSELF. THIS IS MY MISSING POSTER. UNFORTUNATELY, SAWANTVADI KNOWS THE PAIN CAUSED BY SEX TRAFFICKING FAR TOO WELL. I WAS TRAFFICKED AT 12, KIDNAPED OFF STOCKTON BOULEVARD. LIKE MANY OF CASH’S STAFF. FADE IN TO WALK THROUGH CASH’S DOOR IN THE DARKEST OF PLACES. SHE TOO, WAS IN SEARCH OF LIGHT. I LOVE YOU AND I BELIEVE IN YOU. YOU ARE AMAZING AND WONDERFULLY MADE FOR VADEN AND THE OTHER SURVIVORS WORKING HERE. THE FUTURE IS BRIGHTER THAN EVER. I USED TO WORK RIGHT ON THE. THIS WAS MY FAVORITE BLOCK WHERE WE WERE ACTUALLY SITTING RIGHT NOW. SO IT’S SO FUNNY TO SAY THAT I USED TO WORK WHERE I WORK NOW I KNOW MY PAST DOESN’T DEFINE ME. UM, I, WITH THE HELP OF CASH AND THE EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC THEY HOLD, UM, I WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE A FULL EXPUNGEMENT. JUDGE BROWN, WHO GRANTED MY EXPUNGEMENT, HE SAYS, LOOK AT YOU, ANGELA. 2.0. AND I COULDN’T AGREE ANY MORE WITH HIM BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT I FEEL LIKE. ANGELA 2.0, THE REAL ANGELA. THERE IS HOPE, THERE IS REDEMPTION. THERE IS LIKE A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE PICTURES AND YOU SEE THE TRANSFORMATION. HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE IT? I FEEL LIKE I LITERALLY GOT MY LIFE BACK. THERE’S A FEELING WHEN WHEN YOU’VE GIVEN UP ON YOURSELF AND YOU’RE JUST BEING ME, AND EVERY STEP THAT I TOOK AWAY FROM THAT, I BEGAN TO BECOME. AND I FEEL LIKE. I’M EXCITED TO FIND OUT WHAT ELSE THAT I HAVE TO LEARN IN LIFE. OH, IT’S JUST A BURN. JEANETTE DIAZ IS CONSTANTLY WORKING TO FORGET THE STINGS OF HER PAST. I WAS BRANDED BY A PIMP, SO I WAS THEIR PROPERTY. I WANTED TO CUT MY WHOLE HAND OFF AT A POINT. AND AS THE DIE CONTINUES TO DISSOLVE, SO DOES THE NIGHTMARE. SHE ONCE ENDURED. KNOWING THAT I DON’T HAVE TO HAVE THESE ANYMORE, NOR KNOWING THAT I CAN LOOK DOWN ON IS ME. I WAS LOST SINCE I WAS 12 YEARS OLD. I WAS NEVER ME. AND NOW I’M ME. DIAZ IS WRITING A NEW STORY. AMADOR. IT’S WHEN SHE CALLS ME TWO WEEKS IN TO TELL ME THAT SHE’S FALLING IN LOVE WITH HERSELF. AND IT’S A STORY OF SUCCESS. SHE NOW WORKS HELPING OTHER SURVIVORS AT THREE STRANDS GLOBAL. THE ORGANIZATION RECENTLY OPENED ITS NEW DOWNTOWN FACILITY, GIVING WOMEN ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO FIND SAFE HAVEN. MY DREAM IS TO HONESTLY SHARE MY STORY UNTIL I DIE. SO THAT I CAN HELP, EVEN IF IT HELPS. TEN PEOPLE, I WILL BE SO GRATEFUL TO EVEN HELP THOSE TEN PEOPLE. I LOVE YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO DOES THIS WORK. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UNDERSTANDING HOW SEX TRAFFICKING EXISTS IS OVERWHELMING, BUT HOW DO YOU END IT? TRAFFICKING IS A BIG PROBLEM. A BIG PROBLEM IN CALIFORNIA BECAUSE BECAUSE OF THE LAWS. AND THAT’S REALLY AN ISSUE. HOW DO WE FIX THAT? IT’S EASIER SAID THAN DONE. 14 GOT A LOT OF TRACTION FROM THE PUBLIC BECAUSE ONCE THE PUBLIC WAS MADE AWARE OF IT, BECAUSE, I MEAN, WE TRIED TO CHANGE THAT BILL OVER A DOZEN TIMES TO MAKE IT A VIOLENT FELONY. BUT ONCE THE PUBLIC WAS MADE AWARE OF IT AND IT GOT WORD GOT OUT THERE, THE WHOLE NARRATIVE CHANGED. SOME OF THE BIG LEGAL CHANGES THAT HAVE ALLOWED THIS HAVE BEEN VOTER PASSED PROPOSITIONS, AS WE KNOW, OFTEN THE REAL EFFECTS OF THOSE VOTER PASS PROPOSITIONS DON’T NECESSARILY MAKE IT IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC. BUT WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT IS MAKING SURE EVERYONE SEES WHAT’S RIGHT THERE, SITTING IN PLAIN SIGHT. MY HOPE IS THAT EVENTUALLY, IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, IT WILL BE SO THAT THE MESSAGE WILL BE SO SATURATED OUT THERE WITH EVERYBODY INVOLVED. WE REALIZE THAT THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE THAT IT TAKES TO PERPETRATE THIS CRIME, THAT THERE WON’T BE ONE MORE CHILD SOLD IN THE COMMERCIAL SEX TRADE. YOU GUYS WEREN’T DOING THIS, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. IN SO WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO COMMITTEE OKAY. SO SHOULD WE GRAB SOME PHOTOS OF YOU AGAIN? YES. OKAY. YOU. LIKE, I GOT A I GOT A SISTER. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING OUR KCRA 3 DOCUMENTARY, ESCAPING THE BLADE. STOPPING SEX TRAFFICKERS SAVING LIVES. WE HAVE MORE COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK. JASON MARKS SITS DOWN FOR A DISCUSSION WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO PREVENT TRAFFICKING IN THE FUTURE. WELCOME BACK EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING ESCAPING THE BLADE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC AND WE WANTED TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH SOME LOCAL EXPERTS HERE. AND YOU SAW THEM ALL IN THE DOCUMENTS. WE SAWANTVADI, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CASH, JASON COLLINS FROM THE SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT, STATE SENATOR SHANNON GROVE, YOU SAW HER. SHE INTRODUCED SB 14 AND GOT THAT PASSED. ALSO SB 1414 SAC SHERIFF JIM COOPER AND THEN COURTNEY MARTIN FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE. AND LET ME START WITH YOU, SENATOR GROVE. SB 1414 IS WHERE WE SORT OF LEFT OFF THE DOCUMENTARY, AND YOU WERE HEADING INTO COMMITTEE. CAN YOU TELL US WHERE SB 1414 STANDS RIGHT NOW? SO WHEN WE WENT INTO COMMITTEE, THERE WERE HOSTILE AMENDMENTS FORCED ON US. WE WANTED TO COVER EVERYONE FROM, YOU KNOW, ALL MINORS INCLUDED IN THE BILL. AND WE ALSO DIDN’T WANT THE TEN YEAR AGE GAP BETWEEN THE PERPETRATOR AND THE VICTIM. WE ALSO WANTED A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS ON THE SECOND OFFENSE OR THE FOR, YOU KNOW, REPEAT OFFENDERS. THEY HASTILY TOOK OVER THE BILL. THEY INSERTED AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PRETTY BAD. THE BILL IS NOW IN APPROPRIATIONS WHERE MY JOINT AUTHOR IS THE CHAIR OF APPROPRIATIONS, AND SHE’S NOT HAPPY WITH THE LANGUAGE IN THE BILL. NOW. AND WE’VE SUBMITTED AMENDMENTS TO GO BACK TO WHERE IT WAS BEFORE THEY HASTILY TOOK IT OVER IN PUBLIC SAFETY. DO YOU FORESEE THAT PASSING THIS YEAR? I WOULD HOPE SO. I DON’T UNDERSTAND, JASON, AND I DON’T THINK ANY OF US UP HERE UNDERSTAND WHY IT’S SO HARD TO PROTECT MINORS FROM SEX TRAFFICKING OR SELLING OR BUYING CHILDREN FOR SEX. WE TOOK THE AMENDMENTS TO ELIMINATE ADULTS, WHICH ADULTS ARE STILL BEING SOLD EVERY SINGLE DAY AS WELL. BUT IT’S VERY DIFFICULT FOR SOME REASON, TO GET BILLS LIKE THIS OUT OF THE BUILDING AND SO ON. WHEN WE SPOKE, THE ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT, I MEAN, LOTS OF THINGS STAND OUT ABOUT OUR CONVERSATION, BUT YOU SAID YOU HAVE TO GO AFTER THE BUYERS. EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THAT’S SO IMPORTANT. WELL, IT’S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS AS LONG AS THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BUY IN CHILDREN AND WOMEN AND PEOPLE, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE FOR SALE AND SO IT’S THE DEMAND THAT DRIVES THE SEX TRAFFICKING. THERE’S NO WAY IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE IF THERE WEREN’T SOMEONE TO PURCHASE. IT WAS ACTUALLY SOMEONE WE WENT TO VISIT CASH AFTERWARDS. AFTER 14. THE ORIGINAL BILL WAS KILLED IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. WE WENT TO VISIT CASH AND THEY ACTUALLY TOLD US ABOUT THE DEMAND SIDE OF IT NOT BEING FROM THE INDUSTRY OR HAVING THAT BACKGROUND. YOU LEARN FROM PEOPLE LIKE SALON THAT, YOU KNOW, GIVE YOU THESE IDEAS, AND THAT’S WHY WE RAN 14, 14 THIS YEAR. BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT PAINFUL ENOUGH FOR THE BUYERS. NOT TO WANT TO DO IT. AND THAT’S WHAT PENALTIES TO DO, THAT THEY’RE STILL OUT THERE DAY IN AND DAY OUT. WE’VE DONE OPERATIONS. WE’VE ARRESTED OVER 30 PEOPLE IN ONE EVENING COMING OUT TO BUY. SO UNLESS YOU IMPACT THE BUYERS, IT WILL NOT CHANGE. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE, SHERIFF? IN A PERFECT WORLD, IF YOU HAD A MAGIC WAND, HOW DO HOW DO WE GET RID OF THIS? DIFFERENT PENALTIES TO THINK ABOUT THIS. SENATOR GROVE’S BILL PASSED. IT’S BEEN TRIED MANY, MANY OTHER TIMES. WHY DID IT PASS? NOW? CALIFORNIANS ARE FED UP WITH THE LAWS AND WHAT’S GOING ON. IT IS A MOVEMENT RIGHT NOW AND THEY WANT THINGS CHANGED. AND IT’S NOT OKAY. AND IT’S SO HARD. THAT’S AN EASY BILL. HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF A CHILD SHOULD BE A FELONY. ALWAYS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A VIOLENT CRIME. IT NEVER WAS. SO WHAT CHANGED NOW? JUST THE WHOLE CRIME ISSUE HAS BUBBLED UP WHERE IT RESONATES WITH VOTERS. SO IT’S GOING TO BE A COME TO JESUS THIS NOVEMBER WITH THE VOTERS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND OBVIOUSLY PART OF WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LAWS, SB 14 WAS PASSED. COURTNEY HAD THE CHANCE TO WHAT WE THINK DO THE FIRST CASE TRIED, THE FIRST CASE IN THE STATE. WE CAN’T TALK ABOUT THE CASE BECAUSE IT’S STILL BEING, UH, IT’S STILL IN THE PROCESS. WE STILL NEED TO WAIT FOR SENTENCING. BUT COURTNEY, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT SORT OF MESSAGE THAT SENDS TO PEOPLE OUT THERE, THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TRAFFIC A MINOR OR EVEN JUST TRAFFIC AN ADULT IN GENERAL? YEAH, WE KNOW THAT TRAFFICKERS ARE WELL AWARE OF WHAT THE PENALTIES ARE WHEN IT COMES TO MINORS. WE SEE ALL THE TIME THEY’RE TRAFFICKERS. FIND OUT THAT SOMEONE IS A CHILD AND THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, I’M NOT GOING TO MESS WITH YOU BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE PENALTIES ARE SIGNIFICANT WHEN IT COMES TO TRAFFICKING MINORS. I’M GOING TO TARGET AN ADULT WHERE I THINK MAYBE THERE’S MORE LENIENCY, SEE, WHICH IS A PROBLEM ITSELF. UM, BUT TRAFFICKERS ARE WELL AWARE OF THESE PENALTIES. AND WHAT I THINK IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT ABOUT HAVING THE TOOLS THAT SB ONE FOUR GAVE US IS THAT I’VE, OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS THAT I’VE BEEN INVOLVED IN PROSECUTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING, I’VE SEEN MANY TRAFFICKERS WHO HAVE PRIOR CONVICTIONS FOR TRAFFICKING, WHO ARE BACK OUT ON THE STREETS, AND I’M PROSECUTING THEM AGAIN. UM, AND SO MAKING TRAFFICKING OF A MINOR A STRIKE MEANS THAT WHEN THOSE PEOPLE COME BACK, THEY WILL GET DOUBLE THE PENALTY THAT THEY GOT ORIGINALLY. AND SO IT REALLY. YEAH, IT GIVES US A TOOL WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUTURE PROSECUTION, PARTICULARLY OF THESE TRAFFICKERS, BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THEY ARE IN MOST CASES GOING TO GET OUT OF PRISON. MANY OF THEM RETURNED TO THESE TYPES OF CRIMES. AND WE WANT TO CERTAINLY HAVE THEIR PENALTIES ON THAT SECOND TIME, REFLECT THEIR PRIOR CONDUCT. AND AND JASON, UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS AND THE RESTRICTIONS AND THE LAW, GOING BACK TO WHEN THE LAW CHANGED FOR MINORS NO LONGER BEING HELD AS PROSTITUTES, WHICH IS THE CORRECT CALL THERE OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE VICTIMS AND THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY’RE DOING. HOW DIFFICULT IS YOUR JOB WHEN YOU GO AND INVESTIGATE THESE CASES? WELL, WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, DEALING WITH VICTIMS, LET ME SAY THIS VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING ARE PROBABLY THE MOST DIFFICULT VICTIMS THAT WE DEAL WITH IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE BOARD. THERE’S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT, YOU KNOW, SET UP THESE ROADBLOCKS WHEN WE’RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH THEM. UH, FEAR OF THEIR TRAFFICKERS. UH, YOU KNOW, BRAINWASHING, MANIPULATION BY THEIR TRAFFICKERS NOT TO COOPERATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. ALSO, JUST THEIR GENERAL DISTRUST WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. LIKE, IF, YOU KNOW, THEY’VE BEEN ARRESTED FOR PROSTITUTION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. SO, UM, IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT. THE LAW. UH, AS FAR AS DEALING WITH JUVENILES. YES. LIKE THEY SHOULD NOT BE CRIMINALIZED AT ALL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, THERE’S OTHER TOOLS, MECHANISMS IN PLACE WHERE WE CAN INTERVIEW THESE YOUNG KIDS WITH LIKE WELFARE AND INSTITUTION CODES AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO I’M JUST GOING TO THROW THIS OUT, SHERIFF. GO AHEAD. BUT IT MAKES IT TOUGHER. AND THAT’S THE ISSUE. THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THOSE LAWS DECRIMINALIZE CHILD PROSTITUTION. I ARGUED AGAINST THAT ON THE FLOOR. I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE AT THAT TIME, DECRIMINALIZED LOITERING. AND THEN YOU CAN’T INTERVIEW JUVENILES. AND THAT’S REALLY THE BIG ISSUE. EVERYONE’S AFTER THE TRAFFICKER. THAT’S THE GOLDEN GOOSE. BUT HOW MANY TRAFFICKERS DO YOU REALLY GET? THAT’S A TOUGH PART BECAUSE THESE GUYS USE JUVENILES. NUMBER ONE JUVENILES. HEY, IT’S NOT A CRIME. YOU CAN’T BE ARRESTED. THEY CAN’T TALK TO YOU. SO WALK AWAY FROM THE COPS AND THEY TEACH THESE YOUNG GIRLS THAT. SO WE’VE GOT TO CHANGE THAT NARRATIVE AND REALLY HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. AND THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE THERE. VICTIMS. YES. BUT SOMETIMES TO GET TO THE TRAFFICKER, THERE’S THAT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HIM AND THE VICTIM. THE GIRLS. AND IT HAS TO BE A BALANCE BECAUSE IT’S INTERESTING, BECAUSE SOME JURISDICTIONS ARE HANDS OFF. THEY DON’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE GIRLS. AND IT’S A MARKED DIFFERENCE FROM SACRAMENTO COUNTY. THE PROSTITUTION, YOU SEE, WHY IS THAT? WE’VE GOT TO IMPACT IT SOMEHOW. AND THE LAWS HAVE REALLY HAMPERED US AND HURT US IN HOW WE DO THAT. BUT LIKE I SAID, IF THERE IS A TASK FORCE, HOMELAND SECURITY SAC PD DOES, WE DO DA’S OFFICE IS TRYING TO STAND UP. EVERYONE’S CHASING THAT TRAFFICKER. AND THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS JUST AREN’T THERE. IT HAS EXPLODED ON THE SCENE IN SACRAMENTO. IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING. SO LIKE COOP SAID EARLIER, SORRY, JASON, BUT JUST LIKE COOP SAID EARLIER ABOUT STIFFER PENALTIES AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE PENALTIES, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW TO SOLICIT A MINOR CHILD OR ENGAGE IN SOLICITATION WITH A MINOR IN COOP. DOES BEST WHERE THEY’RE ACTUALLY COMMUNICATING AND THINKING THEY’RE GOING TO GO MEET UP WITH A 10 OR 11 YEAR OLD. BUT THAT ACT OF SOLICITATION RIGHT NOW IS A MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY TWO DAYS UP TO ONE YEAR IN JAIL. AND SO IF WE GET SB 1414 PASSED, IT’LL BE IT’LL BE A FELONY ACROSS THE BOARD AND YOU’LL GO TO PRISON. I WANT YOU TO DO PRISON TIME. IF YOU’RE ENGAGING IN PURCHASING SEX FROM A MINOR. SO SOMEONE HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT VICTIMS AREN’T SWEPT UP IN THIS? IF THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS? AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GO BACK TO, UM. I THINK THAT OFTEN WHEN THE LAW PASSED THAT CHILDREN NO LONGER CAN BE SEEN AS, UM, PROSTITUTES, THAT THAT MEANT THAT IT WAS A HANDS OFF APPROACH THAT WE COULD NO LONGER THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT COULD NO LONGER DO ANYTHING. AND WHAT WE FOUND IS AND WHAT I SEE IS THAT WE CAN STILL AND THEY CAN STILL INTERVENE IN THEY CAN STILL HAVE CONVERSATIONS, CAN STILL PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THIS PERSON, THESE YOUTH ARE CONNECTED WITH RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED. IT’S BEEN REALLY HELPFUL WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SAC PD THAT WHENEVER WE COME IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE, THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE, THEY REACH OUT FOR THOSE SUPPORTS TO ENSURE THAT THE YOUTH AT LEAST HAS THOSE THINGS PUT IN PLACE. UM, OFTEN WE CAN SEE WE CAN ASSUME THAT VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING ARE TOO DIFFICULT OR ARE COMING UP AND THEY DON’T WANT TO SEE, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE VERY, UM, THEY HAVE COMPLEX TRAUMA, COMPLEX PTSD. THEY’VE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH, THEY’VE GONE THROUGH THE RINGER AND SO WE’VE GOT TO COME AT THIS WITH A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX OF HOW WE CAN CONNECT NOT ONLY PERSONALLY, BUT CONNECT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THESE VICTIMS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE’VE DONE IS THAT WE’VE DO A LOT OF OUR CASES WITHOUT HAVING A VICTIM TESTIFY, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO MINORS. AND WE’RE ABLE TO DO THAT BY SHOWING THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE TRAFFICKER, BY SHOWING OBSERVATIONS BOTH FROM ONLINE ACTIVITY AND ACTIVITY OUT ON THE STREET. SO WE’VE ACTUALLY TRIPLED THE AMOUNT OF PROSECUTIONS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT WE DO WITH THESE CASES BECAUSE OF THOSE TYPES OF OUT OF THE BOX STRATEGIES. AND IT ALSO REALLY PROTECTS THE VICTIM BECAUSE THEN THE VICTIM DOESN’T HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN A VERY DIFFICULT CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS. YES. AND WE PARTNER WITH FOLKS LIKE CASH SO THAT THEY GET SERVICES. UM, AND WE’RE ABLE TO PROSECUTE THE CASE SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT PUTTING THE BURDEN ON THEM OF HAVING TO TESTIFY. WE ALL KNOW THIS A PROBLEM. IT’S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO HAVE. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US ON TV FOR ESCAPING THE BLADE. TUNE ON TO KCRA.COM. WE’RE GOING T