Members of the Erie Women's Fund learned the harsh realities of the hidden crime of human trafficking from Jordan Pine, a leading voice in the anti-trafficking movement in Pennsylvania.  Pine is a Girard native who has led more than 150 seminars on the subject across the state.  She said human trafficking is overlooked and under reported, because people don't understand the master manipulators who draw victims in. 

The data indicates that 42% of those manipulators are family members or romantic partners. "If we can shine a light on their schemes and the tactics that they're using, they're not going to be as effective and ideally then we will start to see a reduction in human trafficking cases," Pine said.

Erie County District Attorney Beth Hirz agrees with Pine that education about what human trafficking looks like is key to spotting it, so that victims have a better chance of finding someone to trust and tell. "I mean these individuals have been manipulated for so long they're not going to trust anyone especially law enforcement," District Attorney Hirz said adding, "they're also going to be concerned that they are going to be in trouble."

The county DA is working to develop an anti-human trafficking task force like the one that is already making a dramatic difference in reporting and prosecution in Dauphin County.  That's also where Pine started Greenlight Operation, a non profit about to open a restoration home for those escaping the grip of human trafficking.  It's a residential facility where those recovering will live for up to a year.  "We do that through trauma therapy and counseling, we will also be offering many courses through a year long residential program where individuals can rebuild their lives and also be equipped to live independently and have a sustainable job and income so they never have to go back to that way of living.

State Senator Dan Laughlin also attended the educational session. After hearing Jordan Pine's testimony a year ago at a Senate Majority Policy Committee Hearing Laughlin and Senator Cris Dush introduced a bill to make sure that trafficked minors don't take the fall.  "If it's a minor under the age of 18 and they get picked up for prostitution, they will not be charged with prostitution," Senator Laughlin said.  "They will be recognized as the victim that they are and we will put them into appropriate facilities where they can be helped instead of prosecuted."

Senator Laughlin would like to expand his proposed bill to include minor forced into selling drugs. You can learn much more about the issue of human trafficking this weekend when Jordan Pine and Erie County District Attorney Beth Hirz join Lisa Adams on the Insider.

The Erie Women's Fund is dedicated to empowering women and families through grants and educational forums. You can learn more by clicking here.