Sex Trafficking in the Fox Cities
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Lt. Steve Elliot educates the community about sex trafficking in the Fox Cities.
Contributor: Lieutenant Steve Elliot, Appleton Police Department
The issue we are going to delve into today is disturbing and
may come as a shock to you, but, as with all issues, increasing
awareness is one of the first steps in being able to implement
meaningful solutions.
In Wisconsin, human trafficking exists in both rural and urban
communities and that includes the Fox Cities. Over eighty percent
of all human trafficking in the United States is sex trafficking or
entering into prostitution through force, coercion, manipulation or
fraud. In fact, according to Steve Elliot, a Lieutenant at the
Appleton Police Department, it is nearly impossible to find any
community free of sex trafficking, "All you need is hotels,
highways and men."
Although Hollywood may glamorize sex workers' lives, the truth is
not glamorous at all. Children as young as 12 years old are
vulnerable to sex trafficking. Running away from home, experiencing
domestic violence and living in poverty are the top three
identified risk factors that can make people more susceptible to
the promises of pimps or madams targeting new victims. Lieutenant
Elliot shared the story of a local high school girl who ran away
from home after a fight with her dad, was taken-in and cared for by
a man she met at the transit station, was coerced to stay and,
eventually, sold for sex. Another local woman's two-year-old was
held hostage unless she agreed to enter into prostitution.
Lieutenant Elliot explained that prostitution is not a chosen
lifestyle between two consenting adults, "This is about coercion
and manipulation of vulnerable women." What was historically
considered prostitution is now being redefined within
our local police department as sex trafficking
because of coercion. In the past, standard practice was
for police to ticket both the prostitute and the john (the man
paying money for sex). There was no focus on prosecuting the
traffickers or pimps and prostitution was viewed as a "victimless"
crime. Today, police are working on new ways to handle sex
trafficking cases. Convicted prostitutes receive counseling, job
training, safe housing and mentoring and, under Wisconsin law, can
have their prostitution arrest removed from their record, which can
help them to obtain other employment.
Johns are also treated differently. Despite the stereotypes, johns
often have wives and children, and can be pillars of the community
in all sectors including business and government. Many johns point
to the drug-like addiction of pornography as a leading factor for
their decision to ultimately purchase a prostitute. After their
arrest, johns are prosecuted and required to participate in
educational programs and, in some cases, counseling to help with
recovery from sex addiction. In these educational sessions, it is
not uncommon for johns to come to tears when they realize how their
actions contribute to the abuse of women. In addition, pimps are
aggressively pursued and prosecuted.
Although these changes are important, our community leaders
recognize that more needs to be done. Lieutenant Elliot explained
that his unit, which includes six police officers, could spend all
of their time investigating sex trafficking cases, but also needs
to focus on drug- and gang-related cases. Currently, the Appleton
Police Department is working with a nationally recognized
consultant, Jonathan Cloud, and a local taskforce to better
understand the issue of sex trafficking in the Fox Cities and
identify strategies for prevention, particularly among youth.
United Way Fox Cities helps to fund organizations taking the lead
to address sex trafficking and serve victims, including the Sexual
Assault Crisis Center, Reach Counseling, Harbor House Domestic
Abuse Programs, Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services and the Boys
and Girls Club of the Fox Valley (runaway program).
Despite all of the community efforts, you may still be asking
yourself, "What can I do?" According to Lieutenant Elliot,
prevention is key; success rates rehabilitating prostitutes are
discouragingly low. Supporting young people at high-risk of being
coerced into sex trafficking is crucial. If you are interested in
mentoring youth, numerous opportunities can be found through
the Volunteer Center of East Central Wisconsin's
website.
If you know someone who is a victim of sex trafficking, dial 2-1-1
for referrals to the Sex Trafficking Hotline and health & human
services.