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Sex Traffickers Target Children in State Care

WGCU | By Margie Menzel
Published January 23, 2013 at 2:58 PM EST

Lawmakers on Wednesday heard about the impact of a new law that helps child victims of sex trafficking instead of treating them as criminals.

Department of Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins said the Safe Harbor Act has allowed his agency to establish three safe houses for victims, with more to come.

He also said pimps have been targeting young people in state foster care.

"That's what has been shocking to me, more than anything, is the volume of particularly prostitution, where organized crime is, in essence, actively recruiting our kids to get into this business."

Wilkins said the new law has raised awareness of human trafficking…and he expects more cases to be reported this year than ever before.
Tags
Law and Order Sex AbuseChild AbuseNursing HomesCrimeLocal
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