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2022-2023 Orange County Grand Jury Report <br />Human Sex Trafficking in OC <br />August 14, 2023 <br />Page 3 <br />SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL <br />Valerie Amezcua <br />Mayor <br />vamezcua@santa-ana.org <br />Jessie Lopez <br />Mayor Pro Tem, Ward 3 <br />jessielopez@santa-ana.org <br />Thai Viet Phan <br />Ward 1 <br />tphan@santa-ana.org <br />Benjamin Vazquez <br />Ward 2 <br />bvazquez@santa-ana.org <br />Phil Bacerra <br />Ward 4 <br />pbacerra@santa-ana.org <br />Johnathan Ryan Hernandez <br />Ward 5 <br />jryanhernandez@santa-ana.org <br />David Penaloza <br />Ward 6 <br />dpenaloza@santa-ana.org <br />Finding F6: <br />There is no centralized, coordinated, and specialized database in Orange County that could be <br />utilized across all affiliated agencies to track repeat victimization. <br />Santa Ana agrees with this finding; however, a law enforcement agency cannot develop such victim <br />databases due to laws, policies, and procedures. A non-profit agency/entity or a County agency would be <br />better suited to manage such a database. <br /> <br />Finding F7: <br />Orange County’s wealth and tourist attractions make it a magnet for human sex trafficking. <br />Santa Ana agrees with this finding. Orange County is a magnet for tourism with its wealth, world-renowned <br />attractions, beaches, and excellent weather. The County also attracts a criminal element, including human <br />trafficking. Santa Ana recognizes this criminal element's negative impact and has dedicated personnel to <br />the OCHTTF, led by the Anaheim Police Department. <br /> <br />Finding F8: <br />Sex trafficking is an underground crime. Trafficked individuals are transient and mobile, making it <br />difficult to discover and identify victims. <br />The City of Santa Ana agrees with this finding. Human traffickers and their victims are transitory and <br />routinely traverse from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, crossing county and state lines. As a member of the <br />OCHTTF, Santa Ana understands the importance of collaboration with these other jurisdictions. <br />Finding F9: <br />Law enforcement attitudes and methods have changed to a “victim centered trauma informed” <br />approach, but more training is needed to identify, intervene, on behalf of, and support victims. <br />Santa Ana agrees with this finding. Our personnel within the OCHTTF and the Department receive <br />continual information and training regarding human trafficking. <br />Finding F10: <br />Law enforcement agencies do not focus enough on the demand side of human sex trafficking, and <br />punishment of the clients is minimal. <br />Santa Ana disagrees partially with this finding. Santa Ana and the OCHTTF conduct operations to address <br />the demand side of human trafficking by arresting sex purchases; however, sex purchases receive only a <br />citation and rarely spend any time incarcerated for their crimes.