My name is Valerie Pfeifer, a Master of Social Work Student at OU-Tulsa, writing you to shed a light on the importance of being educated upon and knowledgeable of human sex trafficking in Tulsa and our state of Oklahoma. This issue is extremely prevalent in our city, as the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported approximately 1,692 human sex trafficking cases just within Oklahoma in 2019.

Being in the community every day, it is impossible to know what an individual may be going through or experiencing. That is why it is important for the community and other professionals to be aware and knowledgeable of this subject, to help alleviate the magnitude of human sex trafficking in our state.

More education training classes should be provided at various institutions so any community member who wishes to get involved can, as well as education of medical and mental health professionals to learn how to work with such individuals who are victims of human sex trafficking.

Additionally, actions need to be taken within our judiciary system so that individual’s being prosecuted for such crimes as prostitution are not treated as criminals under certain circumstances. There are many life events that can lead a person into a lifestyle of this type such as: childhood abuse and trauma, unhealthy relationships, poverty, and mental health issues. These life circumstances force individual’s into tough situations that could lead to a person who will take advantage when they are most vulnerable.

These factors should be considered when an individual ends up in the judicial system, so that they receive assistance that they need to lead a healthier life, rather than being treated as a criminal. We as a community, professionals in the workforce, and as a state can do better.