RICHMOND — So as to correctly handle human trafficking issues in Richmond, consultants say town goes to wish extra lights, a robust public schooling marketing campaign and beefed up enforcement.
Three individuals intently acquainted with the difficulty not too long ago offered an replace to the Richmond Metropolis Council concerning collaborative efforts to deal with the issue, which they famous consists of each intercourse work and compelled labor.
Those that spoke earlier than the council included LaShara Johnson, director of Household Justice Middle West; Katrina Natale, director of the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Process Drive; and Sgt. Florencio Rivera, head of the Richmond Police Division’s Home Violence and Sexual Assault unit.
In Richmond, the main focus has largely been on curbing intercourse work alongside twenty fourth Road by rising lighting, contemplating visitors calming measures and deploying quarterly human trafficking operations.
A complete of 23 lights have been put in on properties alongside the twenty third Road hall prior to now yr and the aim is to put in one other 100, Natale mentioned. That effort will probably require monetary help from town and a request of about $10,000 is slated to return earlier than the council quickly, the trio mentioned.
Growing visibility within the space wasn’t all the time straightforward, Johnson mentioned. The Household Justice Middle mentioned the initiative years in the past however “it seemed like a lost cause,” she mentioned.
Via better neighborhood engagement and in collaboration with the twenty third Road Hall Working Group, Johnson mentioned residents felt extra empowered and invested in efforts to scale back crime and blight, ultimately shifting the lighting mission alongside by way of its first section.
“It’s so amazing to see what they’ve been able to accomplish just along that 24th and 23rd Street area,” Johnson mentioned. “It’s not the funnest topic to talk about but I’m so excited and happy to work with amazing people who are really concerned and really value the folks in our community.”
As for the police division’s function, Rivera mentioned officers often conduct massive quarterly operations that embrace saturating the twenty third Road hall. Their aim isn’t to make arrests, he mentioned, however is as a substitute meant to tell doable human trafficking victims of assets obtainable to them.
Operations look like working to some extent, Rivera mentioned. Folks within the space have grown extra acquainted and comfy with officers, he mentioned, and a few who settle for companies determine to cooperate with officers on monitoring down perpetrators.
Throughout massive operations, Rivera mentioned officers could come into contact with 5 to 10 victims. About 10 to fifteen smaller operations are additionally carried out however Rivera mentioned staffing ranges are too low to have a devoted workforce targeted on human trafficking alone.
“For us, it’s not really so much as forcing them to work with us or help us. It’s something where we provide services no matter what,” Rivera mentioned. “Any contacts we make during these operations, they’re always offered services. It doesn’t matter if they provide us information, it doesn’t matter if they help us and that’s how we do it every time.”
Except for addressing trafficking alongside twenty third Road, Natale mentioned the Contra Costa County District Lawyer’s Workplace additionally has a particular unit targeted on office injustice concerning wage theft and paying under minimal wage to “full fledged labor trafficking,” she mentioned.
A minimum of one of many 10 instances of wage theft or labor trafficking at present beneath investigation by the District Lawyer’s workplace is towards a Richmond enterprise, Natale mentioned. Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda mentioned he believes there are extra.
Johnson mentioned the Household Justice Middle encounters about 200 to 300 human trafficking victims looking for quite a lot of companies – every thing from psychological well being help and authorized assist to accessing housing, meals and job safety.
Group Violence Options, an umbrella group for the Rape Disaster facilities in Marin and Contra Costa counties, reportedly labored with 184 human trafficking victims final yr. A “high number” had been both trafficked in Richmond or their trafficker was from Richmond, Natale mentioned.
“It’s highly underidentified. A lot of people do not come forward and when they do come forward they don’t always come forward to the same folks,” Natale mentioned.
What is evident is that human trafficking is a regional challenge, Natale famous.
The Contra Costa County District Lawyer’s Workplace already conducts outreach focusing on these most vulnerable to labor trafficking and office injustice, together with foreign-born residents and younger individuals. A broader billboard marketing campaign and academic occasions for regulation enforcement are additionally anticipated to roll out throughout the coming months, Natale mentioned.
The duty drive additionally plans to hunt metropolis help in funding a neighborhood consciousness marketing campaign in Richmond particularly, Natale mentioned. Extra council help would additionally assist transfer alongside initiatives, she mentioned.
Councilmember Jamelia Brown, whose skilled background included a give attention to human trafficking, shared her keen curiosity in working intently with the duty drive. Brown previously assisted the San Pablo and Richmond police departments in anti-human trafficking work as a specialist with Group Violence Options.
“I’ve seen first hand the devastation that human trafficking can cause in our community and the uptick in what is happening,” Brown mentioned.
Those that consider they’re witnessing human trafficking are inspired to contact the Household Justice Middle. If the individual they consider is being trafficked includes a minor, Natale encourages neighborhood members to contact Youngster Protecting Providers.
“The best practice is to be as proactive as possible,” Natale mentioned.
Initially Printed: February 6, 2025 at 6:20 AM PST
