Garfield hosted presentation recognizing human trafficking

GARFIELD — The Garfield City Council hosted a community training for those interested in awareness of human sex trafficking in the local area on Thursday, Oct. 26.

A small group of 14 community members gathered in the Garfield Community Center, 1st and California Street, to see a presentation on the dangers of sex trafficking and how to recognize it given by licensed clinical social worker Paula Barthlmess and police detective Chad Benson.

Barthlmess and Benson started the presentation by asking if anyone knew the difference between prostitution and human trafficking.

Benson explained that if a prostitute keeps all the money paid for sexual contact, it isn’t considered human trafficking. In contrast, human trafficking indicates that a third person benefits by obtaining the proceeds.

Benson said that one girl is worth $200,000 to $250,000 per year to a trafficker or pimp and often has more than one girl in what they call a “stable,” who is also “slinging” dope.

According to their research in Idaho, 85 percent of human trafficking is familial, and all money is tax-free and untraceable.

Trafficking occurs at schools, in the home, parks and portapotties, hotels and motels, as well as Air BNBs. It also happens in vehicles, tents, truck stops, and rest areas.

Victims include homeless youth and adults, immigrant adults and children, foster children, and victims of abuse and neglect.

Barthlmess said that anyone who has vulnerability is a potential victim to the human trafficker, who will ask them if they need a warm place to stay or food.

Some physical indications that Barthlmess shared with the group to look out for included when they have no ID there are multiple minors with unrelated adults.

Benson added that if they have sexual paraphernalia in their bag, like condoms, lubrication, baby wipes, and baby, that is evidence that they might be a victim of human trafficking.

Some victims might have a symbol tattoo burned or branded into their bodies, and they’ll be reluctant to explain it, Benson said.

Some behavioral indicators that you are encountering a victim of sex trafficking are they lie about their age or identity, having trouble making eye contact, allowing others to speak for them, or looking to others before answering any questions.

Other indicators are that the person seems to be under the control of an older person, male or female, resists offers for help to get out of the current situation, and will not ask for help.

A victim will show poor physical health, physical and or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture, and appear exhausted all the time.

Barthlmess said she works with women whom she helps by placing them in safe houses that suffer from domestic violence, sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse, and neglect.

Two attendees from Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse viewed the presentation. ATVP has a 24-hour crisis hotline for those suffering from sex trafficking at 509-332-4357 or 1-888-288-9221.