HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07282015 - C.75RECOMMENDATION(S):
ADOPT Resolution No. 2015/284 to reaffirm the County's commitment to developing and supporting strategies to
prevent, reduce, and serve the victims of commercial sexual exploitation of children and work to eliminate sex
trafficking in California, as recommended by Supervisor Gioia and Sheriff Livingston.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.
BACKGROUND:
The commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is a pressing national, state, and local issue. The FBI
estimates that 100,000 children in the United States are sold for sex each year, including child sex trafficking, child
sex tourism, and child pornography.
In California, the issue is especially urgent. According to the FBI, three of the top 13 highest trafficking areas in the
nation are located in California: San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the San Diego metropolitan areas. The age when
most youth are lured into CSEC activities is shocking: the average age for boys is between eleven and thirteen, and
for girls, it is between ages twelve to fourteen. Even more shocking: the average life
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 07/28/2015 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
ABSENT:Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: John Gioia, (510) 231-8686
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: July 28, 2015
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: Chris Heck, Deputy
cc:
C. 75
To:Board of Supervisors
From:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Date:July 28, 2015
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Increasing Awareness of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
expectancy of an exploited child from the time they first enter CSEC activities is 7 years (U.S. News & World
Report, Oct. 16, 2005, “Young Lives for Sale” by Bay Fang).
County law enforcement, child welfare services, behavioral health, the courts, and community-based
organizations all grapple with CSEC youth and report increasing numbers of exploited underage victims.
On May 28, the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Board of Directors voted to approve a
resolution to affirm CSAC’s commitment to developing and supporting strategies to prevent, reduce and serve the
victims of commercial sexual exploitation of children and work to eliminate sex trafficking in California. (The
resolution is attached for reference.)
Other efforts at the state and national levels are underway, including legislation aimed at prevention,
identification, and strengthening the tools available to law enforcement for identifying, arresting, and prosecuting
child sex traffickers.
Child sex trafficking occurs each day in California, as CSEC youth are transported through California counties and
kept captive in varying cities or for specific events. While counties have led the effort to address the unique needs
of CSEC youth, including working with law enforcement and the courts to divert suspected exploited children, the
need for intensive services tailored to minors who have been ensnared in the illegal sex trafficking trade remains
critical.
Adopting County Resolution No. 2015/284 reaffirms the County's commitment to prevent commercial sexual
exploitation of children in our County and to work collaboratively with all County partners to identify, protect,
and serve these vulnerable children and youth.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The Board will not have adopted a formal position on this issue.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution No. 2015/284
CSAC Resolution: Prevention of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, May 28, 2015
A RESOLUTION TO AFFIRM CSAC’S COMMITMENT TO PREVENTING
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN IN OUR COUNTIES
AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH ALL COUNTY PARTNERS TO
IDENTIFY, PROTECT, AND SERVE THESE VULNERABLE YOUTH
IN THE MATTER OF the epidemic of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
(CSEC) in the State of California:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the California State Association of
Counties (CSAC) recognize that the commercial sexual exploitation of children is
a pressing national, state, and local issue, and
WHEREAS, the FBI estimates that 100,000 children in the United States are sold
for sex each year, including child sex trafficking, child sex tourism, and child
pornography, and
WHEREAS, three of the top 13 highest trafficking areas in the nation are located
in California: San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the San Diego metropolitan areas,
and
WHEREAS, county law enforcement, child welfare services, behavioral health,
the courts, and community-based organizations report increasing numbers of
exploited underage victims, and
WHEREAS, counties have led the effort to address the unique needs of CSEC
youth, including working with law enforcement and the courts to divert suspected
exploited children, and
WHEREAS, county law enforcement, child welfare services, behavioral health,
the courts, and community-based organizations continue to grapple with
identifying and assisting CSEC youth, and
WHEREAS, the need for intensive services tailored to minors who have been
ensnared in the illegal sex trafficking trade remains critical,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CSAC BOARD OF
DIRECTORS TO AFFIRM CSAC’S COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING AND
SUPPORTING STRATEGIES TO PREVENT, REDUCE, AND SERVE THE
VICTIMS OF COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN AND
WORK TO ELIMINATE SEX TRAFFICKING IN CALIFORNIA.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the California State
Association of Counties at its meeting on the _28_ day of _May 2015_.
By: ____________________________________
CSAC PRESIDENT