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San Joaquin County declares Human Trafficking Awareness Month; DA details prosecutions and new task force
Summary
The Board of Supervisors proclaimed January 2025 Human Trafficking Awareness Month. District Attorney Ron Freitas described 23 prosecutions involving 31 victims in 2024 and highlighted a new county task force organized to combat trafficking.
The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors proclaimed January 2025 Human Trafficking Awareness Month at its Jan. 14 meeting and heard a detailed update from District Attorney Ron Freitas on local enforcement and survivor services.
Freitas told the board his office prosecuted 23 human trafficking cases in 2024 involving 31 victims and credited a newly formed, countywide law enforcement collaboration with boosting investigations. “This is slavery, and it’s happening more today than ever,” Freitas said, urging residents to report suspicious activity and to attend outreach events the office is hosting this month.
Why it matters: Freitas and Family Justice Center officials stressed that human trafficking is a countywide problem that requires coordinated criminal prosecutions, victim services and community awareness. The district attorney framed January’s proclamation as a call to action: public training, community partnerships and more law enforcement coordination.
Freitas described two recent organizational steps. First, he thanked the Family Justice Center and a slate of community partners for survivor services and for convening a public summit. Second, he highlighted creation of a new San Joaquin County law enforcement task force, which he called ASSAULT (an anti-sex- and labor-trafficking task force), formed with the sheriff’s office and probation as the county’s first trafficking task force in its recorded history.
Family Justice Center director Alexis Wilbur and victim-witness program manager Gabriela Hauregui told the board their offices provide services to trafficking survivors whether or not a criminal report is filed. Wilbur said the center can deliver two-hour outreach presentations to schools, faith groups and community organizations and invited community requests for those trainings.
Freitas gave residents several near-term opportunities to engage: a town hall at University of the Pacific, a Lodi City Council proclamation event and a Jan. 29 informational session for truck drivers organized with Truckers Against Trafficking.
Ending: The board presented a formal proclamation and supervisors spoke in support of continued funding and coordination among the District Attorney’s Office, Family Justice Center, law enforcement and community partners.
