Local Human Trafficking Discussed on Southern Tier Close Up

Human trafficking does exist in the Twin Tiers and you may be surprised to find out how prevalent it is.

Appearing on the February 6 edition of the weekly, local public affairs program, Southern Tier Close Up, the executive director of the Crime Victims Assistance Center in Binghamton Raini Baudendistel talks about how children in our area are among the thousands in the United States who are being lured, exploited and sold into the sex industry, including on-line sex sites, child pornography and prostitution.

Over the past year, there have been at least three cases of underage prostitution operations that have been prosecuted in the region, countless more reports of child pornography and child sex abuse and Baudendistel says there are many more that don't make it into the light of public scrutiny.

CVAC has recently received funding to help fuel interdiction efforts to break the cycle of vulnerable children being victimized in the region.

This eye-opening edition of Southern Tier Close Up can be heard Saturday, February 6 at 12:10 p.m. on News Radio 1290 WNBF.