Justice Hope Freedom Podcast

Multnomah County Commissioner, Susheela Jayapal; Claire Barrera Program Manager at El Programa Hispano’s UNICA and Joyclyn Bell a survivor and activist join me for this important conversation about Oregon Senate Bill  274. Introduction: Charging children with prostitution is counter to our values as a community. Given that children cannot, by law, consent to sex, it is inherently contradictory to criminalize them for prostitution. They are experiencing a crime, and should not be treated as committing one. Experiencing arrest, prosecution, and/or custody by law enforcement is deeply traumatizing, especially for sex trafficking survivors of color who have already faced trauma, systemic racism, and trafficking. SB 274 Priorities: prevention, decriminalization, reducing barriers. SB 274 focuses on decriminalizing prostitution for minors -- including removing the ability to arrest and/or charge minors who are experiencing sex trafficking with prostitution. Sex trafficking disportionality impacts Black and Brow