“Child Sex Trafficking Survivors in Ohio Face Prosecution Instead of Protection, Say Advocates”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : In Ohio, child survivors of sex trafficking often face a nightmare that doesn’t end when they escape their captors. Advocates say that state laws can retraumatize these children by allowing them to be prosecuted for crimes they were forced to commit against their will by their traffickers. Child victims are treated as willing participants in the sex trade and are often prosecuted for offenses such as solicitation, drug trafficking, and money laundering.

Micayla Wilson, who works with trafficked youth across the state and at the faith-based nonprofit group Gracehaven, says that this system doesn’t make sense. Instead of punishing the children, the focus should be on providing them with care and support to heal from their trauma. However, changing Ohio’s practices has been challenging due to the state’s home rule power, which allows for self-governance of these issues in all 88 counties.

Only a handful of Ohio’s counties, including Franklin and Delaware, have introduced programs to prevent the prosecution of child trafficking victims. According to Gracehaven, sex trafficking has become the second fastest-growing criminal industry in the United States, with an estimated 1,000 victims in Ohio each year. Ohio ranks fifth in the nation for total trafficking cases, with Columbus ranking ninth as one of the worst cities in the nation.

Advocates argue that Ohio’s current laws do not go far enough in helping survivors avoid the criminal justice system. Twenty-nine states and Washington, D.C. have laws that keep trafficked children from having to go through the court system at all. Ohio needs to screen children earlier to prevent them from being arrested in the first place and ensure they receive the appropriate care and support.

Survivors of child trafficking may end up going back to their trafficker if they have a criminal record, as it can make it harder for them to find employment and safe housing. Case management services can help survivors access resources such as clothes, food, and housing, and prevent them from being re-exploited.

Gracehaven and the Governor’s Human Trafficking Taskforce are working to help county court systems develop screening processes to identify child trafficking victims before they are arrested. Local screening has already found more victims than anticipated, indicating that the problem is likely more widespread than previously thought. By screening children earlier, advocates hope to prevent them from being punished for crimes they were forced to commit and instead provide them with the help they need to heal.

Housing and safe housing are major gaps in addressing human trafficking nationwide. Gracehaven’s group home for girls ages 11 to 18 is one of the few facilities of its kind in Ohio. However, due to space and funding limitations, it can only host eight girls at a time. The organization has been trying to expand its capacity for years but lacks the necessary funding.

In conclusion, Ohio’s current laws often retraumatize child survivors of sex trafficking by prosecuting them for crimes they were forced to commit. Advocates argue that the focus should be on providing these children with care and support to heal from their trauma. By implementing screening processes and expanding resources, Ohio can better identify and support child trafficking victims, ensuring they receive the help they need instead of being further victimized by the criminal justice system..