LOS ANGELES – Investigators committed to cracking down on sexual predators are using cyber-based “patrols” to catch suspects, according to a report presented to the Board of Supervisors by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.
Working in partnership with Demand Abolition, a nonprofit organization focused on eradicating the demand for commercial sex, sheriff’s deputies post ads to make contact with would-be buyers.
Once phone contact is made, detectives identify themselves as members of the sheriff’s Human Trafficking Bureau, advise the caller that solicitation is a crime and offer referrals to sex addiction treatment.
Investigators also use electronic “bots” to send text messages to buyers to let them know their activity is illegal, exploitive and no longer anonymous.
During the first month of operations this year, nearly 1,900 conversations took place with potential sex buyers which prompted more than 30,000 text warnings designed to disrupt their behavior.
The information on cyber solutions was part of a quarterly update from DCFS Director Bobby Cagle to the Board of Supervisors on the battle against child sex trafficking.
In addition to recapping hundreds of January arrests of suspected traffickers and “johns” in a three-day statewide round-up led by the Sheriff’s Department and dubbed “Operation Reclaim and Rebuild,” the letter to the board noted success in “recovering” hundreds of youths from the street and getting them access to services, including jobs and job training.
The county’s first responder protocol — which identifies sexually exploited minors as victims who should be offered help, not arrested — was instituted in August 2014. Since then, 408 “recoveries” have been made.
Training continues for employees in various county departments that interact with children, foster youth and young adults, to help them identify potential victims and learn strategies for intervention.
A roll-out of the first responder protocol was planned for last August, but has been delayed because of jurisdictional issues related to where to house runaways whose homes are outside of Los Angeles County. The decision has since been made that DCFS will temporarily care for everyone other than youths subject to delinquency warrants, who will be temporarily placed in juvenile hall. The roll-out is set to begin this month and is planned to be phased over six months.
No new action was taken by the board.
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John says
What exactly are they stating constitutes “sexual predator”? This article doesn’t make it clear if they are just talking about underage hookups, prostitution, or just hookups with consenting adults. I dont trust these task forces when they make everything sound like there are all these deviant sex predators all over ever neighborhood. Its just fear mongering.
Lawsuit says
I personally know of horrible people who know how to access I’ll addresses… on phones and computers they can take control of your devise as if it were you. How do you track the hacker using your device? This is real and a proven fact!
I hope you catch some illegal pluckers… but get a task force for the evil bastards hacking I’ll addresses and posing through other people’s devices. That’s another issue. Get with the times look it up it happens!
callingitasitis says
Do not agree with warning them by text. They know it is against the law arrest them & track them and maybe can save future victims. This is a crime that should not be overlooked by the people who are charged with enforcement of the Law. Work with the Feds and get it done, stop with the foot dragging PC poop.
David says
The best solution is to teach law in school as a mandatory curriculum at the same level of law school. Science should be an elected subject at the University level. This will prevent these types of crimes. Law, business, math, and English.
w says
David, you must have no children.There are many “should’s in life” your suggestion won’t work.
Alby says
Ya it won’t work because lawyers and court employees won’t be able to make nearly as much money as they already do.