Officer Rasmussen often finds that these youth are simply put in inappropriate situations. They can be a runaway looking for a place to stay and then made to feel obligated to pay a debt. But it does. One of the biggest myths about sex trafficking is that it only happens in large cities β mostly internationally. As a member of the local sex trafficking task force here, Officer Rasmussen knows how misplaced these beliefs are. While the average age of entry into sex trafficking is during the teen years, the abuse can continue well into adult years.
While some statistics on sex trafficking in the US do exist, they are mostly estimates as it is a largely hidden crime, making it nearly impossible to know exactly how many victims there are.
What we do know is that Portland is a place of sexual exploitation, most likely due to its abundance of strip clubs and online sexual services. This makes it even more crucial to shed to light on this unfortunate situation. Yes, the first step in fighting human trafficking is admitting that there is a problem, but the second step is equally as important β educating yourself and others around you about the problem. For example, the omnipresence of technology makes it important to understand the dangers it presents and how it can be used to take advantage of young people.
As a preventative measure, Gresham PD proactively works with at-risk youth who exhibit concerning behaviors drug use, running away, sexting, isolation, etc. Whatever it is, we must continue to voice awareness by having these conversations, even about such a tough topic. Outside of education and awareness, there are many other simple ways to contribute.
With organizations right here in the PDX area that aim to help victims and survivors of human trafficking, there is also a great need for people to get involved.
