Nonprofit leader: Suffolk County a trafficking 'hot spot'; don’t intervene, call police or the shelter hotline

Kate Carbonaro, executive director of The Retreat, said on Successful Philanthropy that trafficking—both sex and labor trafficking—occurs across settings on the East End and that Suffolk County has been identified as a high‑incidence area.

“Suffolk County is one of the 20, they call it a hot spot of trafficking in the country,” Carbonaro said, adding that trafficking can occur in homes, farms and other places and that many survivors were trafficked from their home communities.

Carbonaro cautioned bystanders against direct intervention. She cited a Suffolk County police sergeant, James Johnson, who advises people not to confront suspected traffickers. “Don’t go in and try to stop that yourself,” she said. “We don’t know how dangerous the situation is.”

Instead, Carbonaro recommended calling police or contacting The Retreat’s hotline for guidance. The hotline is available 24/7 and is multilingual; Carbonaro described it as a first point of contact for both bystanders wondering what to do and for survivors seeking options and referrals.

Carbonaro also described a local court established to support young people at risk of sexual exploitation, named in the interview as the "Eron Court," and said The Retreat works with that court and other partners to support exploited young people.

For suspected trafficking or immediate danger, Carbonaro said to contact local authorities; for advice, referral or survivor support she directed listeners to the organization’s website, allagainstabuse.org, and the organization's hotline as given in the interview.

The segment emphasized safety for bystanders and survivors and the role of local nonprofits and law enforcement in response and referral.