Illegal Gangs and Human Trafficking : Is it flying under the radar ?>>
Georgia has been a leader in the fight against human trafficking and combatting illegal gang activity . Much attention has been given to creating resources for both initiatives . As a result , most criminal justice professionals in the state are aware that we are combatting significant problems related to criminal gangs and human trafficking . What many are not focused on , however , is the possible intersection of these two illegal enterprises in Georgia .
According to data obtained from the Georgia Crime Information Center , five human trafficking related arrests have occurred in Georgia in the past five years that were connected to gang investigations . In other words , law enforcement agencies have charged gang members with violations of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act 9,178 times in the last five years , but human trafficking associated charges occurred only five times in those arrests . This data tells us that either ( 1 ) gangs in Georgia are not involved in human trafficking OR ( 2 ) as our focus and success in investigating drugs , guns , and other gang related illegal activity has increased , gangs have looked to human trafficking as an organized criminal enterprise in the state .
Which is it ?
Given the prevalence of nationally associated gangs and their subsets in Georgia and known human trafficking activities of those gangs in other parts of the country , one can surmise that it ’ s happening in Georgia , too . But how common is it ? While there is no scientifically verified data to answer this question , we can look to San Diego for clues . In 2016 , the University of San Diego published a report of their findings in a National Institute of Justice funded research project focused on the intersection of illegal gang activity and human trafficking . The study found that at least 110 gangs are involved in the exploitation of individuals for commercial sex in San Diego . Gang members made up an estimated 85 % of pimps / sex trafficking facilitators in the area . The San Diego Police Department has documented 4,100 street gang members . By comparison , metro Atlanta has over 15,000 street gang members , according to the FBI . The study also estimated that San Diego County has between 8,830 and 11,773 victims / survivors of sex trafficking every year , of whom only 1,766 had contact with law enforcement . These findings are indicators of a hidden , underground criminal enterprise -- a profitable illegal industry whose foundation is the exploitation of vulnerable young girls . Often , these girls have been abused and / or neglected before they are targeted by a pimp , that may be a member of a nationally affiliated gang .
Here in Georgia , leaders in the fight against criminal gang activity and human trafficking have taken note of the San Diego study and are using it their investigative strategies . Vic Reynolds , Director of the GBI states ,“ Criminal street gangs commit crimes for a variety of reasons , one of which is to make money . We know that these gangs are using minors in sex trafficking operations because of the profitability of the industry and to finance their illegal gang activities . The law enforcement community , along with our public and private partners , must meet this challenge head -on . We must make sure no human being is treated as a commodity and sold as property in our state . If you traffic another person in Georgia , you will be investigated , arrested , and prosecuted .”
It ’ s Complicated
The often-teenage girls recovered in human trafficking operations or otherwise identified by law enforcement or social services personnel are another indicator of the intersection of illegal gang activity and human trafficking . And , direct victim service providers offer a wealth of knowledge when it comes to this intersection and the complexities of working with sexually exploited children . The Receiving Hope Center , or “ RHC ”, is Georgia ’ s first residential intake center for
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