Human Trafficking of Minors: Keeping Victims Safe

Human Trafficking has garnered a lot of attention in the past decade. It is now understood that children are trafficked internationally and domestically for both sex and labor. Unfortunately, most will never come to the attention of systems and those that do, have historically been revictimized due to the lack of understanding of the crime and inability to meet the complex needs of minors that have been trafficked. In fact, child victims often wound up in the juvenile justice system. This episode of Spotlight of Youth will examine the issue of human trafficking, legislative measures taken in Ohio to improve the legal system's response to victims of human trafficking that are minors, and highlight the efforts of one jurisdiction, Lucas County, to create a coordinated, holistic, and non-punitive response for domestic minor trafficking victims.

Guests:

Rep. Teresa Fedor, Ohio House of Representatives, 45th District

Megan K. Mattimoe, Legal Advocacy Director at Ao: Advocating Opportunity

Hon. Connie F. Zemmelman, Lucas County Juvenile Court