Child Trafficking in DC

Hi Everyone,

Please take a moment to check out the news report at: http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=119188&catid=158 by Channel 9. I have been following the issue for quite sometime, but was particularly alarmed to read about the level of corruption by professionals such as judges, police etc. I hear about this corruption in less developed countries, but want to believe that the United States maintains a higher standard.

There are so many ways that the problem of child trafficking needs to be attacked. As a civil society, we must demand stronger enforcement, tougher sentencing guidelines, and more social services for victims. Additionally, economists could weigh in on this debate by pointing out to lawmakers and the general public how many dollars are lost to our overall economy because of child trafficking. I am not an economist, but I do know that there are millions of nontaxable dollars exchanged by pimps and their customers. Additionally, there is a potential loss in market labor of adolescents who may be forced to sell their bodies on the street rather than maintain legitimate jobs in the workforce sector. I would welcome any further comments from on this line of thinking.

I encourage you all to keep up the fight against this heinous crime and demand action from your political representatives and community.