Commercial sex trafficking affects thousands of children and young adults in California. Historically, exploited children have been arrested by law enforcement for commercial, sex-related criminal conduct and often prosecuted in juvenile court. Traffickers and those purchasing children for sex are rarely held accountable.

After witnessing a dramatic increase in cases of exploited youth in the City of Oakland, Nancy O’Malley, District Attorney of Alameda County, created a program that shifts law enforcement’s approach to the issue — treating exploited minors as victims rather than criminal offenders.