Judge and law enforcement encourage you to use a different lens - WFMJ.com News weather sports for Youngstown-Warren Ohio

In 2022 Ohio ranked fourt in human trafficking in the United States, with Mahoning and Trumbull Counties two of the major reporting trouble spots.

Since then the numbers are declining in Ohio, but the problem persists in this 150 billion dollar a year business worldwide.

That's why Youngstown's Municipal Court Judge Renee DiSalvo invited folks to a public forum in Youngstown.

Judge DiSalvo asks when we see someone being trafficked to look closer and see someone's daughters or sons who were likely groomed, are being exploited, became addicted and trapped in the lucrative illegal business of sex trafficking.

"When you see these women talking on the streets that you think might just be prostitutes or drug addicts, understand they normally are not, they are normally doing that because they have to, so change the lens you see these women at," Judge DiSalvo said.

"Most of the people who have been trafficked have been isolated, they have been manipulated, they have been cohearsed ?, kind of seared to what is normal so there is always that tendency to think this is where all my needs are being met and I don't have anyone to help me so there is always that pull," Judge DiSalvo added.

The definition of human trafficking is the use of force, fraud, or coersion for either commercial sex acts or labor.

The Mahoning Sheriff's Deputy Bil Cranston explaines for some it's a parent who sells thier child, or a brother who sells his sister. For others it is threats against the victim, the victim's baby, children,or family members that keep them from seeking a way out.

A survivor who now helps others says traffickers often prey on people who are vulnerable, have low self esteem or live in poverty.

Barbara Freeman, an activist and survivor who runs the Freeman Project in Columbus encourages us to all take a stand against human trafficking.

"I would say it's not a choice that someone would wake up and say I want to be sold. ...I think it's important to ask a person what happened?," Freeman emphasized.

Tragically this modern form of slavery continues to grow because it's a commodity that is sold over and over, versus drugs once sold- then you need more product.

FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Corey Taylor told folks at the public forum it is a 150 billion dollar illegal business.

The FBI, state, and local law enforcement work together to help victims, gather evidence to catch traffickers and get justice for the victims.

Judge DiSalvo started a specialized a two year docket or program help victims of trafficking called GRACE court.

GRACE stands for Growth Restored Through Acceptance Change and Empowerment.

It provides wrap around services including mental health, addiction, housing, and job help.

"We always tell you to call 911, and you can certainly call your local law enforcemet becasue we work alongside them and there is a national human trafficking hotline they can contact, FBI Victim Specialist Debra Hughes said.

You can also chat with someone at the National Human Trafficking Hotline at www.humantraffickinghotline.org/chat

Looking through a different lens when looking at human trafficking victims