I'm writing to comment on a letter written by Dave and Louise Hertzog concerning the lackluster emphasis put on cracking down on sex trafficking in Delaware.
In 2014, the Delaware General Assembly adopted comprehensive legislation to combat sex trafficking. The problem with the legislation is it has done very little to combat a growing problem.
Delaware is one of 28 states that lack residential treatment centers to house, educate and provide intense therapy to victims of the sex trade.
Many children and young adults are vulnerable victims whose home life was dysfunctional and who had been previously sexually abused. When they flee from these situations, they are often recruited by sex traffickers who pose as good Samaritans wanting to be of help. Once they are forced into the sex trade, they often lose hope. Even if they are helped out of it, without a safe place to land, they often go back to their abusers who offer food, shelter and drugs. It's a vicious cycle, and unless action is taken by our state government to place harsh mandatory penalties on the traffickers and allocate funds for treatment centers, these atrocities against innocent children and young adults will continue to escalate.
People need to speak up and petition our Delaware Legislature to save those who can't save themselves.
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