Santa Maria human trafficking

For those concerned with Child Welfare and/or the Human Trafficking Task Force: http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/prostitution-an-issue-in-santa-maria-but-low-on-priority/article_531ec32c-2810-5ba2-9feb-f28ba088a698.html

• City officials acknowledge that prostitution persists in Santa Maria, compounded by extensive statewide human trafficking networks. They say "the line between human trafficking and prostitution can be extremely blurry," especially among younger women.
• Internet access, social media, and the transient nature of the perpetrators are making it a more difficult crime to track. Sting operations in the city addressed the issue as recently as 2013, and investigations continue, but police are more focused on murder and other top-priority crimes.   
• Santa Barbara County's human trafficking task force includes leaders in nonprofit organizations and law enforcement officials who pool their resources for cases or for training. The task force is especially concerned about minors countywide who get caught up in human trafficking.
• To gather intelligence and intervene, Santa Maria has three full-time school resource officers, community policing with beat coordinators and bicycle officers, and community organizations (with former CWS staff represented).