MISSION
The Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) is a multidisciplinary collaborative effort of law enforcement, victim services, prosecution, social services, NGOs, health care, faith-based organizations, and the community to combat human trafficking in Orange County, California. Since 2010, the Anaheim Police Department and Waymakers has continued to work in partnership to co-chair the OCHTTF. Today, this collaboration includes 13 lead agencies and 60 governmental and community partners to address the following areas: protection, prosecution and prevention.
The lead agencies for the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force also include the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control, California Highway Patrol, County of Orange Social Services Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Garden Grove Police Department, Irvine Police Department, Santa Ana Police Department, Orange County District Attorney's Office, Orange County Probation Department, U.S. Attorney's Office, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
For a full timeline of the major milestones of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force and collaborative partners, download the 2019 Human Trafficking Victim Report.
Lita Mercado, Director of Victim Assistance Programs, Waymakers
Having an educated community can change the landscape of this fight. The more that all of us in the community know about this issue; the more likely we are able to identify and then refer potential victims of human trafficking and help them receive services. We know, that Orange County is a destination location. Perpetrators have told us that they can make more money here than in the surrounding counties. This is clearly a community issue that will take a community to address.
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While the numbers shared are important in the understanding of human trafficking in Orange County, the numbers don't reveal everything. For example, a little under three years ago a young teenager was identified as a victim of human trafficking. Her identification resulted in the immediate communication and response of five different agencies. Through the efforts of approximately 45 people within 11 different agencies, in 4 different counties, 2 trials, 2 defendant; today she actively participates in services in a different state and makes calls to her Victim Advocate regularly just to share how she is doing.
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This Jane Doe is one of those numbers in our Human Trafficking Victim Report. Her story illustrates the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force's ability to leverage our partners' strengths towards supporting victims and hold perpetrators accountable.