Tim Bigelow introduced today’s program--Megan Rheinschild with the office of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney. Megan is the Manager of the Office’s Victim Witness Program. Her presentation today focused on human trafficking in SB County, where for years the problem was not taken seriously and there was a lack of enforcement.
Megan started with the District Attorney in 1994 working with victims of domestic violence and has worked extensively with the FBI re: its victim assistance programs. SB County is a very active area for sex trafficking. While the primary centers for trafficking are the Bay Area and LA, the Central Coast has been active, partially since there are fewer resources attacking the issue and the area is affluent and ripe with tourists. Pimps (mostly of color, independent and “employing” 2-4 girls each) prey on runaways, minors and victims of abuse and advertise via the internet, using local motels for operations. Some work the area for 2-3 days (many from Kern County and the Central Valley) and then move on to LA or points south.
Trafficking is on the radar of local faith-based communities, but it took a huge effort to get local law enforcement to look at the issue and needs of the victims. After a hard sell and a federal grant beginning in 2013, the SB County Sheriff’s department came on board 100%. The foster care system, mental health services and juvenile justice system needed an eye opener. About 70-80% of the girls who are targeted already have been abused, may be drug-dependent and/or are psychologically-challenged. Due to easy recruitment and emotional hijacking some girls fall in love with their pimp and do not want to testify against them. Area massage parlors can be a problem and if they are managed by a criminal network, the girls will not talk to law enforcement at all.
Megan wants to align her department with County Juvenile Justice, Mental Wellness and Child Welfare. She also wants to get to those being trafficked early and offer help, schooling and financial support. She has worked with the Junior League of SB, which saw the local need, raised the funds and opened 6 beds in a safe house recently, after fighting to secure the proper licensing.
In 2017, 13 pimps were targeted, with 12 arrested and prosecuted. So far in 2018, 8 out of 10 targeted pimps have been prosecuted, and 5 johns have been arrested and charged.
Megan believes SB has a real heart to help the victims. The County needs all interested parties to stay focused on the real problem we have locally and she hopes to continue receiving the federal grant funding they now have through 2019. Foster Care and CASA can support and help stop/arrest the trafficking while offering critical support to the victims (yes, most, but not all, of whom are girls or young women).
