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Blog - Renewal Forum

A dollar of prevention is worth $34 in prosecution.

On August 22, 2014, by Sarah Lachman

Fighting trafficking is costly; it costs the government to enforce laws, lock up offenders, and restore victims. In a time where resources are tight, states are implementing prevention techniques to reduce costs. Prevention has shown to reduce incarceration rates and costs, provide education for vulnerable children to be more productive to society, and prevent harms […]

Join us this fall

On August 6, 2014, by Ian Kitterman

The Renewal Forum is seeking two bright and dedicated persons to join us in our work against trafficking this fall. Those interested should send a cover letter, resume, and a short writing sample to info@renewalforum.org About us: The Renewal Forum is a dignity based organization that exists to respond to key issues facing society by […]

Renewal Forum Testifies Before DC Committee

On July 11, 2014, by Daniel Cannon

The Renewal Forum’s Director of Policy and Programs, Ian Kitterman, testified Thursday before the DC Council Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety in favor of the Trafficking of Minors Prevention Amendment Act of 2014.  

The Necessity of Safe Harbor Legislation and Its Implementation

On July 7, 2014, by Ryan O'Connell

In 2008 the New York State Legislature passed the Safe Harbor for Exploited Children Act, a critical law in the fight against child sex trafficking. The law has numerous provisions, but the primary function of the law is to prevent commercially sexually exploited children from being charged with prostitution. The legal basis is that a […]

Operation Cross Country and the Way Forward

On June 30, 2014, by Ryan O'Connell

On Monday, June 23 2014, FBI Director James Comey announced the results of Operation Cross Country, the FBI’s annual nation-wide investigation of child sex trafficking. The eighth installment of the sting covered 106 cities and resulted in the rescue of 168 sexually exploited children and the arrest of 281 pimps (1). The operation was a […]

NY Legislators Block Anti-Trafficking Bill in Order to Advance Political Goals

On June 23, 2014, by Daniel Cannon

The Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act (TVPJA) has been blocked in the New York State Legislature for the second year in a row by lawmakers to further their political agenda. The TVPJA would strengthen law enforcement’s ability to investigate suspected traffickers, provide protection against criminal prosecution for trafficking victims, and increase the penalties for […]

The Importance of Accurate Trafficking Data

On June 9, 2014, by Jewell Battle

Recently, Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore claimed that Milwaukee is a sex trafficking hub. Additionally, she claimed that the FBI stated that Milwaukee is the second highest in the nation for recovered youth. In reality, the FBI was referring to one specific enforcement action. However, as David Finkelhor, director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center, […]

Congressional Action Against Human Trafficking

On May 28, 2014, by Jewell Battle

On May 20, 2014, the House passed five bills aimed at eradicating the sex trafficking of children in the United States. Prior to the passage of the bills, members of congress emphasized the increasing prevalence of human trafficking in our borders. Though many view human trafficking as only a foreign issue, the testimonies consisted primarily […]

The Merseyside Model

On May 16, 2014, by Jewell Battle

In 2006, police in Merseyside, England declared that crimes against prostituted persons were categorized as hate crimes. (Jacobs Ms.Magazine 2014) This policy has become known as the “Merseyside Model.” The Merseyside Model focuses on the protection of prostituted persons, as compared to other forms of enforcement against prostitution, which criminalize the victims of prostitution. (Navarro […]

Legal Prostitution Condones Humiliation of Women

On October 22, 2013, by Shayla Wakumoto

Lauren Hersh, New York Director of Equality Now and head of its Sex Trafficking program, states, “Prostituted persons are not only dehumanized by the act of prostitution but by society treating prostituted persons like second class citizens.” The negative stigma places prostituted persons at a higher risk of violence by abusers who act with impunity. […]