California Targets Sex Trafficking by Cracking Down on Buyers, Not Victims

As part of my role, I conduct street outreach for victims of sex trafficking, focusing on notorious areas like Stockton Boulevard and Watt Avenue. Those familiar with these locales witness unsettling scenes: women, often minors, endure the cold clad in inadequate clothing, while a stream of men drives by, poised to purchase. This is not a choice—it's trafficking. I lead Community Against Sexual Harm (CASH) Sacramento, providing essential resources for the exploited, and as a survivor, I recognize the grave dangers involved.Collaborating with Assemblywoman Maggy Krell and anti-trafficking advocates, I helped draft Assembly Bill 379, aimed at penalizing the predatory men supporting this illicit industry while assisting victims seeking escape. Unfortunately, the demand for sex trafficking remains unchecked in California. The recent repeal of anti-loitering laws aggravates this crisis, evident in the staggering 13,000 victims reported in Sacramento County from 2015 to 2020. AB 379 seeks to address this, enabling law enforcement to disrupt purchase attempts, thereby protecting vulnerable individuals.