http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/n...x-trade-in-school/7cv-S_e4k02gAS1I0tHvwg.cspx
PORTLAND, Ore. – The dominating image in people’s minds regarding prostitution may be older teens, possibly runaways, possibly drug abusers, possibly from broken and abusive homes, probably high school dropouts.
But that image may not be reality for many Portland prostitutes.
There is a major effort to stop prostitution in local high schools.
“One pimp that I talked with referred to a school as a ‘buffet’ because all the girls were contained in one area,” said deputy Keith Bickford, the director of Multnomah County’s Human Trafficking Task Force. “He said it was easy pickings.”
Bickford said a number of local pimps are high school students using their classmates as prostitutes.
“It could start as simple as blow jobs at the back of the school,” Bickford said. “And a buddy will pay money for a girl to do that.”
Portland Police Vice Sergeant Doug Justus says in nearly 30 years on the force, he has never seen anything as bad as the child sex trafficking situation in the Portland area.
“This is so out of control and so bad and it is mind boggling to a guy who's been a cop for this long and to see the lack of resources and help,” Justus said.
And it’s not just low-income areas where this is happening.
“This is Lake Oswego, West Linn, Estacada, Reynolds,” Justus said. “You name it. It's happening.”
The Human Trafficking Task Force is also working with local high schools, educating teachers and administrators on what signs to look for to know if a student is involved in the sex trade.
But that image may not be reality for many Portland prostitutes.
There is a major effort to stop prostitution in local high schools.
“One pimp that I talked with referred to a school as a ‘buffet’ because all the girls were contained in one area,” said deputy Keith Bickford, the director of Multnomah County’s Human Trafficking Task Force. “He said it was easy pickings.”
Bickford said a number of local pimps are high school students using their classmates as prostitutes.
“It could start as simple as blow jobs at the back of the school,” Bickford said. “And a buddy will pay money for a girl to do that.”
Portland Police Vice Sergeant Doug Justus says in nearly 30 years on the force, he has never seen anything as bad as the child sex trafficking situation in the Portland area.
“This is so out of control and so bad and it is mind boggling to a guy who's been a cop for this long and to see the lack of resources and help,” Justus said.
And it’s not just low-income areas where this is happening.
“This is Lake Oswego, West Linn, Estacada, Reynolds,” Justus said. “You name it. It's happening.”
The Human Trafficking Task Force is also working with local high schools, educating teachers and administrators on what signs to look for to know if a student is involved in the sex trade.
