Hundreds of law enforcement officials, advocacy groups and court officials from across the state gathered in Maricopa for a two-day summit.
Survivors also shared their stories, trying to raise awareness and find ways to prevent the crime.
"It's helping people to build self-efficacy, letting them know that they're not alone," said Alegria."There are very specific techniques that abusers and traffickers use that we can teach kids," said Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, director of ASU Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research. "We'll get you in the shelter and get you connected to mental health services, substance-use services, education services, employment services. Whatever that journey looks like for you, we're going to walk through that," said Alegria.
ABC15 was told the average age of a victim is 14 years old and that traffickers often lure them with money or expensive items. Boelts says what he realized is this is a domestic problem that law enforcement can't fight by themselves.
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