Human Trafficking
Presentation
Presented by:
Richmond Police Department
Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force
Family Justice Center – Contra CostaCounty
Mission
The Mission of the Richmond Police Department is to prevent crime and maintain order. We work in partnership with our diverse community to help solve neighborhood problems, address root causes of crime and improve the quality of life in Richmond. We strive to perform in a manner that promotes public trust, confidence and a sense of safety and security.
Human Trafficking Law Changes
Senate Bill 357 (SB 357): Loitering for the Purposes of Engaging in a Prostitution Offense Prohibits law enforcement to detain/arrest an individual for loitering in a public place with the intent to commit prostitution
Penal Code 653.22 PC no longer exists
305 W&I: Children – Temporary Custody and Detention
Any peace officer may, without a warrant, take into temporary custody a minor:
(a) When the officer has reasonable cause for believing that the minor is a person described in Section 300, and, in addition, that the minor has an immediate need for medical care, or the minor is in immediate danger of physical or sexual abuse, or the physical environment or the fact that the child is left unattended poses an immediate threat to the child’s health or safety. In cases in which the child is left unattended, the peace officer shall first attempt to contact the child’s parent or guardian to determine if the parent or guardian is able to assume custody of the child.
If the parent or guardian cannot be contacted, the peace officer shall notify a social worker in the county welfare department to assume custody of the child
Our Focus
Identify and investigate human trafficking cases
Protect
Prosecution
Prevention
Strategic Plan
“We work in partnership with our diverse community to help solve neighborhood problems, address root causes of crime and improve the quality of life in Richmond.” Specific strategies the Richmond Police Department is implementing to achieve our mission:
- We are actively involved with the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force - 23rd Street Corridor Working Group
- Officer Development
- Victim Service Partners
- Outreach
- Direct impact operations
HUMAN
TRAFFICKING
IMPACT
COMMUNITY
MEMBERS
FAMILY
JUSTICE
CENTER
LAW
ENFORCEMENT
HT
TASK
FORCE
BUSINESS
LEADERS
STATE
LEGISLATION
Vision
To eradicate all forms of
human trafficking in CCC…by:
• Identifying and supporting
victims/survivors
• Holding traffickers
accountable through
effective prosecution
Key Principles
• Co-leadership
• Collaboration
• Multidisciplinarity
• Trauma-informed
• Victim-centered
• Culturally-responsive
• Survivor-led
• Evidence-based
Who We Are
Director
Investigators
HT Analyst
Designated HT prosecutors
Specialized HT Advocates
HT Program Manager
HT Case Specialists
Funded Victim Service
Partners:
• Bay Area Legal Aid
• International Rescue
Committee
• Justice At Last
• My Sister’s House
35+ Additional Partners
Key Activities & Strategic Plans
1. Proactive ID, investigation,
prosecution & services
2. Strengthen & expand collaborative
partnerships
3. Protocol development
4. Coordinated, comprehensive
victim services
5. Outreach, training & capacity
building
23 rd
Street Corridor Working Group
Collaborative, multidisciplinary engagement to
address human trafficking, crime and related
livability issues in the area.
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
SB 968 declares Contra Costa
County the first Zero
Tolerance for Domestic
Violence County in California
(now Alliance to End Abuse)
2001
Planning efforts for West
Family Justice Center began
2009
West Family Justice Center
pilot opened in Richmond
2011
West Family Justice Center
moved to permanent site in
May
2015
New non-profit’s 13-member
board seated in September
2016
West Center expanded to 36
MOU partners
2019
Remained physically open
during COVID-19
2020
West Center served 1,328
clients and 1,361 children
2022
Family Justice Center Services
Serving victims of interpersonal violence regardless of income, gender, location and immigration status.
Long-Term Safety
• Parent education
• Job Training
Crisis Support
• Legal services
• Case management
• Richmond Police Dept.
SVU on-site
• Deputy District
Attorney on-site
• TeleCARE
• Trauma Recovery Center
• Child Abuse Counseling
Community
• Project Connect
• Backpack Drive
• Community events
• Family Justice Institute