Marian Hatcher, a national expert on human trafficking with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, addressed students.
The crimes of human trafficking are devastating. For nearly 15 years, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), and its Women’s Justice Programs, has been working to combat the crimes and assist its victims.
At a Student Association of Immigration Law (SAIL) program, “One Size Does Not Fit All,” several members of the sheriff’s office team outlined their work at combating the demand for commercial sex, and the special programs in place to address the unique needs of the women caught in human trafficking.
“The Women’s Justice Programs were established in 1999 as a direct response to address the unique needs of the increasing number of women entering the Cook County criminal justice system,” including in large part survivors of human trafficking, explained Marian Hatcher, special projects assistant for the programs.
Barbara Echols spoke of her work with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office assisting those who are survivors of human trafficking.
She is a member of the CCSO Human Trafficking Response Team and coordinates several CCSO anti-trafficking efforts, such as the “National Day of Johns Arrests,” a nationwide effort with more than 36 participating law enforcement agencies targeting the buyers of sex as the driving force of sex trafficking and prostitution.
While most people think of human trafficking as an international scourge, Hatcher said the Chicago area is not immune from problems. She hopes raising awareness will give citizens an impetus to recognize and report the crimes.
Once the victims are freed from their tormentors, each victim requires specialized services aimed at her personal traumatic experience that may be complicated by historical, environmental and societal factors, Hatcher explained. Treatment services are tailored to each victim, and are based on her needs to not only heal as an individual, but also to become a productive member of society.
After hearing from Marian Hatcher, the Student Association of Immigration Law conducted a collection of toiletries for women being served by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office Women’s Justice Programs. Magdalena Wilk (left) and Louise Viloria (right) sort through the donations.
As a national expert on combating the demand for commercial sex, Hatcher has testified before the Illinois and Colorado legislatures, has been featured in the OWN-TV documentary “Prostitution: Leaving the Life” and has spoken at several national conferences.
Students also heard from Barbara Echols who shared her story of recovery from prostitution. Today, she works through the CCSO with other survivors. Echols also is active with End Demand Illinois and serves on its Survivor Engagement Committee.
Detective Dion Trotter, head of CCSO Child Protection Response Unit, described juvenile human trafficking in Chicago. A runaway minor is likely to encounter a pimp or trafficker within 48 hours of being on the streets, she said.
The program was part of SAIL’s efforts to raise awareness of human trafficking as a local human rights issue. The organization’s second step in contributing to the fight against human trafficking was an all-school drive in November for supplies needed by the CCSO’s Women’s Justice Program.
