Study: Sex-trafficking in Sac County pulls in thousands of people

More than 13,000 people likely experienced commercial sex trafficking in Sacramento County at some point between 2015 and 2020, according to a new study that aimed to quantify the extent of a crime that often goes unnoticed.

The report, drawing on interviews with survivors and data from multiple agencies, is the first of its kind in the state, said Sacramento City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Eric Guerra. His district includes Stockton Boulevard, stretches of which law enforcement agencies consider to be hubs for sex trafficking.

“The sex trafficking is happening in all parts of the county, it’s not just Stockton Boulevard,” said Guerra. “It’s happening in many of our commercial corridors on the east end of the county and that’s why when we did this study it can’t be about just the city because we know that it’s happening throughout the entire area.”

Advocates consider sex trafficking to be a form of modern-day slavery as its victims sometimes are coerced into participating in commercial sexual activities.

Some survivors who spoke with researchers underscored that they were unwilling participants in sex work as they shared details on recruitment, victim and trafficker networks, service access, and encounters with law enforcement officers.

A 34-year-old female trafficking survivor explained how she never expected to find herself in a situation where she would be trafficked.

“At first, when we met, he was a good person, like (a) friend and all that. Then it led to more being involved with him romantically,” said the 34-yearold. “And then down the line, it’s just like he got very controlling and then I couldn’t go nowhere. I couldn’t see, talk to nobody. Then he was putting his hands on me and then it led to that (trafficking).”

The study was conducted by Community Against Sexual Harm, RTI International, and the Institute for Social Research at Sacramento State through nine agencies and organizations that were able to help collect data and insight from people with lived experiences as a victim or survivor.

It draws on national crime surveys and other studies to estimate the total number of sex-trafficking victims in Sacramento, and fills out the research with its interviews.

The analysis suggested more victims are out there, but many are not reaching out for help.

“Knowing how prevalent sex trafficking is in our community and who is impacted our students, our daughters, our sons, and our mothers,” said Terri Galvan, executive director of Community Against Sexual Harm. “If we really understand that, we would be called to action.”

Young women mostly likely to be victims

The study found that 94% of the victims and survivors they spoke with were female, with an average age of 20. Most victims were trafficked for the first time when they were under 20 years old.

Sex trafficking affects people of different races and backgrounds, but researchers found Black victims were over-represented among the people they identified and interviewed. They accounted for almost 50% of the study group.

For every individual the researchers identified, there are 11 times more victims who do not receive the necessary resources to leave, mainly because they’re not connected to support, researchers said.

“These numbers don’t surprise me because the belief that we were not reaching the people who most needed help was part of the reason for this study in the first place,” said Galvan. “It gives us a scope to match our response to the actual need.”

Sex trafficking in Sacramento County?

The data does not specify which area sees the most trafficking activity, however, researcher Fleur Marfori said that Stockton Boulevard, Watt Avenue, and areas in Oak Park were places that survivors had described. Other sites known to harbor trafficking markets are certain websites, truck stops, bars and casinos, massage parlors, and motels.

A sex trafficking hot line for Sacramento County has been created for victims, survivors, community members, and good samaritans to report sex trafficking anonymously. The number to the human trafficking hotline is 844-6647233.