HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 10-23 Sex trafficking discussion expands in Minnesota GRAND FORKS HERALD http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/crime-and-courts/3;
http://www.gran d forksherald.com/news/crime-and-
courts/3 866946-sex-trafficking-discu ssion-expands-minnesota
Sex traf�cking
discussion expands in
Minnesota
By Don Davis
10/23/2015 at 7:15 a.m.
I
MAPLEWOOD, Minn. -- Minnesotans understand little
about sex trafficking in their state, experts in the field
said Thursday as they looked for ways to educate
people.
The most basic information being distributed by anti-
sex trafficking groups is that women involved in money-
for-sex encounters must be considered victims, not
criminal prostitutes.
The Harriet Tubman Center in Maplewood hosted about
three dozen people, mostly local and state officials,with
the intention of educating them and asking how to
spread the message.The Maplewood facility is one of
three Twin Cities Tubman centers that offer help to
people facing domestic abuse, sex trafficking and other
issues.
The center says one in five girls and one in 10 boys will
be sex victims before becoming adults and 70 percent
of those lured into sex trafficking were abused at home.
"We often see this as a big-city problem," Maplewood
Police Chief Paul Schnell, who used to hold that position
in Hastings,told the group.
However, he said, he has found young girls involved in
sex trafficking from places like Hibbing, Duluth and
Rochester in his shopping malls.That does not mean, he
warned,that trafficking is limited to the Twin Cities. He
and state Sen.Scott Newman, R-Hutchinson, said
trafficking is an issue all over the state.
"I suspect there are victims who live in cornfield
country," Newman said.
866946-sex-traffickin -discussion-ex ands-minnesota II�
B p
However,Newman said,"we don't have the resources
like the Tubman Center."The senator said,however,he 'i
was glad to hear that Tubman,Schnell and others in the '�
Twin Cities are willing to help greater Minnesota deal i
with the issue. �
Newman said greater Minnesota residents need to
begin paying attention."Let's talk about this in the
open." ,
Schnell and Newman said it is well known that there is a
sex trafficking pipeline taking Minnesota girls to the
North Dakota oilfields.
Girls are being exploited by men they consider their
boyfriends,experts said Thursday,but the men really
are pimps.
It has taken a long time for police and others to realize
the girls are victims,Schnell said."Sadly,often times we
are unaware,sadly unaware."
"We know these kids are not going to school;they lack
good connections;often times,they do not see
themselves having a safe alternative,"the chief said.
"We know that these are the kids that run away a lot."
Tubman's Tamara Stark said signs of girls involved in I
trafficking include frequent doctor or nurse visits
because they fear catching a sexually transmitted
disease.They also may miss a lot of school.
Often,Stark said,the girls do not feel safe or wanted at
home.They may get into trafficking when"approached
to trade sex for a safe place to stay." '
Many do not realize they are victims,she added.
"Sometimes it is more kicking and screaming"when
people try to help.
In addition to educating the government officials, i
Tubman officials asked them how to best educate I
others.
State Administrative Law Judge Eric Lipman,a former
legislator and long-time Tubman board member,heard
ideas ranging from speaking to men's organizations to
having a presence at major sports events to meeting
with Boy Scout troops.
�
http://www.gra ndforksherald.com/news/crime-and-cou rts/?
Washington County Commissioner Carla Bigham, a
former state lawmaker, suggested that the county
withhold motel licenses until workers are educated in
how to deal with people who get rooms for sex.
State Sen.Charles Wiger, D-Maplewood, said his idea is
to require education in schools "with the seeds being
planted as early as possible."
Don Duvis
Don Davis hns been dre Forum Communications Minnesota
Capitol Bureaa drief since 2001, covering stnte governmenl
und politics for[wo�lozen newspapers in t/ie state. Dnn also
blogs nt Capifal Cl:ntter on Areavoices.
ddn vis�%lorumcamm.com
http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/crime-and- �
co u rts/3866946-sex-traffi cki ng-d isc uss i o n-expa nds-
minnesota