Learning to identify the signs of sex trafficking of minors and the people selling and buying prostitution will better prepare a community to respond if it occurs.
That was the message delivered Friday in an all-day training session that drew about 170 people from Berks County and beyond to the Bernardine Franciscan Conference Center in Millmont.
Most of the participants work in social services or law enforcement.
Speakers included experts from Shared Hope International and Polaris Project, nonprofit organizations working to prevent and eliminate sex trafficking and slavery.
District Attorney John T. Adams told the group that he doesn't think Berks has a problem with youths being forced into prostitution, but it has had one troubling case involving four girls.
Federal prosecutors are handling the case, Adams said, referring to child sex-trafficking charges against Paul S. Sewell.
Sewell, who called himself "God," is accused of running an Internet-based prostitution ring from his home in the 200 block of North 10th Street and forcing minors and adult women into prostitution.
Adams said educating people about the issues may help the community prevent sex trafficking from becoming a problem.
State Rep. David M. Maloney Sr., a Pike Township Republican, told the group that a proposed law would require certain establishments - such as truck stops, bars and bus stations - to post signs referring people to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hot line.
The federally funded hot line provided by the Polaris Project accepts tips on trafficking, connects callers with services and provides technical assistance and training for communities.
A similar measure is pending in the state Senate.
Before the training began, Leland Wiley, a detective with the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland, said the training creates a bridge between investigators and the social services workers who help the victims.
His department uses different approaches to shut down operations, including codes or occupancy permit violations.
"We also do a lot of lobbying for laws in our state," Wiley said. "We testify a lot at hearings. Our goal is to strengthen state laws."
The free training was sponsored by the Berks Coalition against Human Trafficking, Berks Women in Crisis and FREE, a local anti-trafficking group.
Bob Morrison, FREE founder, said he was pleased to see such good participation in the training.
The goal is to make sure no one gets involved in trafficking in Berks, he said.
"Other people smarter than us found out what to do," Morrison said. "All we need to do is follow in their footsteps and bring in people to make it happen."
Contact Mary Young: 610-478-6292 or myoung@readingeagle.com.
Source: readingeagle.comThat was the message delivered Friday in an all-day training session that drew about 170 people from Berks County and beyond to the Bernardine Franciscan Conference Center in Millmont.
Most of the participants work in social services or law enforcement.
Speakers included experts from Shared Hope International and Polaris Project, nonprofit organizations working to prevent and eliminate sex trafficking and slavery.
District Attorney John T. Adams told the group that he doesn't think Berks has a problem with youths being forced into prostitution, but it has had one troubling case involving four girls.
Federal prosecutors are handling the case, Adams said, referring to child sex-trafficking charges against Paul S. Sewell.
Sewell, who called himself "God," is accused of running an Internet-based prostitution ring from his home in the 200 block of North 10th Street and forcing minors and adult women into prostitution.
Adams said educating people about the issues may help the community prevent sex trafficking from becoming a problem.
State Rep. David M. Maloney Sr., a Pike Township Republican, told the group that a proposed law would require certain establishments - such as truck stops, bars and bus stations - to post signs referring people to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hot line.
The federally funded hot line provided by the Polaris Project accepts tips on trafficking, connects callers with services and provides technical assistance and training for communities.
A similar measure is pending in the state Senate.
Before the training began, Leland Wiley, a detective with the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland, said the training creates a bridge between investigators and the social services workers who help the victims.
His department uses different approaches to shut down operations, including codes or occupancy permit violations.
"We also do a lot of lobbying for laws in our state," Wiley said. "We testify a lot at hearings. Our goal is to strengthen state laws."
The free training was sponsored by the Berks Coalition against Human Trafficking, Berks Women in Crisis and FREE, a local anti-trafficking group.
Bob Morrison, FREE founder, said he was pleased to see such good participation in the training.
The goal is to make sure no one gets involved in trafficking in Berks, he said.
"Other people smarter than us found out what to do," Morrison said. "All we need to do is follow in their footsteps and bring in people to make it happen."
Contact Mary Young: 610-478-6292 or myoung@readingeagle.com.
Training is first step toward slamming brakes on sex trafficking
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