Rethink Resources

Inside Bay Area recently did a whole series of articles on teen prostitution in the East Bay Area of California.

Nonprofit caters to needs of sexually exploited youth
When Oakland police find young girls on the street involved in prostitution, one of the first things they do is call for a counselor from MISSSEY Inc. The counselor provides a sisterly shoulder to lean on during a time of crisis and acts as an advocate for the young victim.

Ex-prostitute reaches out to girls still on streets
In the early morning hours, Dee Dee Perry gets in her car and does “spiritual drive-bys” along International Boulevard in East Oakland.

Prostitute series raises dispute behind the scenes
There are certain things that are so evil we put on blinders, hoping that shielding our eyes will make them disappear. Things such as men old enough to be grandfathers flocking to Oakland from far and wide for the specific purpose of having sex with little girls.

Sexual exploitation of minors boils down to basic economics
The supply and demand rule of economics drives the market for everything from toothpaste to sports cars. It also drives the sexual exploitation of minors.

Dealers turning to sex business
When selling crack cocaine became a tougher way to make money at the beginning of the decade because of increased police pressure, many drug dealers turned to pimping instead. By selling young girls for sex, street hustlers were less likely to get caught.

Lawmakers support bill to decriminalize minors

Prosecutor targets pimps, not girls
Deputy District Attorney Sharmin Eshraghi Bock is leading a state-wide charge to spare teenage prostitutes and jail their pimps. Her mission may sound obvious, but it represents a sea change in the way the criminal justice system has historically treated minors ensnared in the sex trade.

Cops shift focus, treat child prostitutes as victims

Oakland girl rebuilds life after month as a prostitute
The day after Christmas, 14-year-old Desiree went shopping at the mall with her friends, missed her curfew and never went home. Then an uncle was shocked to come across a nude picture of Desiree in the shower posted on the Craigslist Web site.

Lost girls seek shelter from abuse

Podcast: Desiree and her mom talk about Desiree’s experience as prostitute. Listen here now.

City comes to grips with teen prostitution
In the past 10 months, at least 170 kids between 11 and 17 have been referred to a local counseling agency because they’d been peddled on the streets for sex. These exploited children have worked for pimps who quit drug dealing for the more lucrative trade of selling young girls for sex

During the same week in April, a community forum was held and you can listen to the town hall meeting on KPFA.org here.