Monterey County Human Trafficking Summit sheds light on Central Coast issue

California is considered one of the top four destinations for human trafficking in the U.S. according to the Center for Public Policy Studies.

Educators, law enforcement and other government agencies came to Salinas today for the first ever Human Trafficking Summit.

With highways running through Monterey County and different transient groups that come and go, the Central Coast and San Francisco bay area are considered hubs for human trafficking.

Thursday, survivors shared chilling stories of how they became victims. This is all to make sure other young people don’t fall into that vicious trap

The summit is sponsored by the County’s Office of Education.

Staff there say about 160 students who have been identified as at-risk for trafficking and 53 as survivors.

Human trafficking includes prostitution, forced labor and the removal of one’s organs.

There are certain groups that are particularly vulnerable like foster youth, and people who have been abused.

“People who are undocumented in the united states are particularly vulnerable. People who come here legally and have a trafficker take their documents away and hold them hostage, so to speak, forcing them to work,” says Assistant DA Jeannine Pacioni.

Law enforcement officers say it’s important that they work collaboratively with other agencies such as local schools because they often are the first point of contact with the victims.

So Thursdays workshop included the signs to look out for and the resources available to help those in need.