California

Nicknamed the “Golden State,” California is the third largest state in area after Alaska and Texas. The discovery of gold and the immigration in 1849 of thousands of “forty-niners” in search of the precious metal helped California’s admission into the Union in 1850. Today, California, land of the giant redwoods, has the highest population of any state in the nation and is America’s principal agricultural state. It is also the home of Hollywood, the center of America’s movie and television industry. Its capital is Sacramento and the state flower is the golden poppy.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that affects people all over the world, including in California. It is defined as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit someone for the purpose of forced labor, sexual exploitation, or other forms of abuse. Human trafficking can take many forms, including labor trafficking, domestic servitude, and sex trafficking.

In California, human trafficking is a major problem, particularly in urban areas. There have been many reported cases of labor trafficking in industries such as agriculture, restaurants, and domestic work. There have also been numerous cases of sex trafficking, particularly in the illegal commercial sex industry.

To combat this issue, California has enacted laws to criminalize human trafficking and provide support for victims. The California Department of Justice has a Human Trafficking Task Force, which works to investigate and prosecute cases of human trafficking in the state. There are also many non-profit organizations and advocacy groups in California that work to support victims of human trafficking and raise awareness about this issue. If you are a victim of human trafficking or know someone who may be a victim, there are resources available to help you. You can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or contact local law enforcement for assistance.

 

 

48 arrested in human-trafficking and sexual exploitation investigation in San Diego, National City
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48 arrested in human-trafficking and sexual exploitation investigation in San Diego, National City

A monthlong investigation into human trafficking and sexual exploitation in San Diego and National City resulted in 48 arrests and identification of 16 people believed to have been trafficked — including eight children, officials announced Tuesday. The investigation — dubbed Operation Better Pathways — was conducted by the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, a…

Oakland church helps sex workers get off streets and back home – ABC7 News
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Oakland church helps sex workers get off streets and back home – ABC7 News

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) — An East Oakland church is collecting funds to send women believed to be trafficked sex workers back home, following an I-Team investigation exposing the problem nearby a local grade school. “We’ve sent three women home,” said Michael Vigil, the pastor at Victory Outreach church, an evangelical church along International Boulevard that’s…

Sheriff says human trafficking numbers have more than tripled in Kinney County – CBS News
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Sheriff says human trafficking numbers have more than tripled in Kinney County – CBS News

KINNEY COUNTY, Texas (CBSDFW.COM)— In June 2021, Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe was already sounding alarms over what at the time he called “an invasion” of his south Texas county by undocumented migrants and human smugglers. Since then, Sheriff Coe has become one of the most vocal border region sheriff’s now saying cases of human…

A&M-C students gain awareness of human trafficking – Rockwall Herald Banner
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A&M-C students gain awareness of human trafficking – Rockwall Herald Banner

COMMERCE —Students at Texas A&M University-Commerce are gaining awareness of human trafficking thanks to the university’s newly developed undergraduate and graduate courses. The courses also provide volunteer opportunities for students to help trafficking victims. The U.S. Department of Justice defines human trafficking as “a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor…

213 suspects have been arrested after an undercover human trafficking operation
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213 suspects have been arrested after an undercover human trafficking operation

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 213 suspects in an undercover human trafficking operation. Investigators with multiple agencies said the suspects allegedly solicited prostitutes and aided and abetted prostitution. Out of the 111 sex workers arrested 24 have been identified as possible human trafficking victims and 14 have been identified…

‘He’s making decisions for our children’: California school board member arrested in undercover human trafficking operation in Florida
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‘He’s making decisions for our children’: California school board member arrested in undercover human trafficking operation in Florida

A veteran school board member from California was arrested in Florida after being caught in an undercover human trafficking operation. Scott Kenneth Wooden, 60, was taken into custody last weekend and charged with one count of soliciting another to commit prostitution, authorities announced. Wooden was among 213 people authorities arrested as part of the seven-day…

California and Nevada may ban forced prison labor, involuntary servitude
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California and Nevada may ban forced prison labor, involuntary servitude

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Lawmakers in Nevada and California are advancing legislation to remove “involuntary servitude” from their states’ constitutions, a move that follows four states’ bans on forced labor that passed in ballot measures last fall. The goal of these proposals is to remove exceptions from the states’ constitutions that allow forced labor as criminal…

Del Mar Union school board member arrested in Florida during human trafficking operation
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Del Mar Union school board member arrested in Florida during human trafficking operation

NORTH COUNTY — A longtime Del Mar Union school board member was arrested Saturday, Feb. 11, on suspicion of soliciting prostitution in Florida, officials there announced Thursday morning, Feb. 16. Scott Wooden, 60, was one of 213 people arrested during a seven-day operation — dubbed Operation Traffic Stop — that aimed to crack down on human trafficking…

Del Mar Union school board member resigns after arrest during human trafficking operation in Florida
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Del Mar Union school board member resigns after arrest during human trafficking operation in Florida

NORTH COUNTY — A longtime Del Mar Union school board member resigned Thursday hours after officials announced he had been arrested in Florida on suspicion of soliciting prostitution. Scott Wooden, 60, was one of 213 people arrested during a seven-day operation — dubbed Operation Traffic Stop — that aimed to crack down on human trafficking in Polk…

Will California and Nevada finally outlaw slavery?
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Will California and Nevada finally outlaw slavery?

Watch our event with a brilliant panel of activists discussing forced prison labor in the U.S. “We have an opportunity to stamp it out once and for all. We’re not going to stop until we get it done,” – Samuel Brown, formerly incarcerated person Lawmakers in California and Nevada are reportedly advancing legislation to remove language from…