Homeland Security’s ‘welfare’ check on Idaho migrant students raises school privacy questions
In other parts of the country, the welfare checks have resulted in children being taken out of their homes and put back into government custody
Human Trafficking
Seattle-area man who allegedly trawled dating sites for victims charged with sex trafficking
A teen told InvestigateWest last year about how she has tried to rebuild her life after the exploitation
Lawsuit accuses Idaho agency of defunding anti-trafficking nonprofit in retaliation for whistleblowing
Victims assistance agency pulled funding for nonprofit believing it was behind InvestigateWest articles
Idaho agency for victims defunds suspected whistleblower, maintains support for nonprofit embroiled in alleged Medicaid fraud
Records indicate the decision to defund nonprofit was punishment for alleged involvement in InvestigateWest articles
King County woman’s chance to testify lost as prosecutors opt for plea deal, raising concerns about justice in sexual assault cases
Data shows many King County sexual assault cases end in plea deals that victims and advocates say don’t reflect the crime
A Washington teen was trafficked by a man she met on Tinder, she says. Two years later, she’s still waiting for justice.
As online recruitment and exploitation of child sex trafficking victims rise, Washington is doing little to stop it
Victims of trafficking in Idaho face coercion at every turn, both on the streets and inside the justice system
Experts say the system criminalizes survivors instead of offering help and safety
Idaho local and state agencies directed federal funding to safe house despite complaints and contractual violations
Funding agencies overlooked red flags that anti-trafficking safe houses allegedly exploited victims
New WA legislation prioritizes human trafficking prosecutions and support for child victims
Almost $700,000 was allocated to support child victims
Most WA courts aren’t requiring convicted sex buyers to pay mandatory fees intended to address trafficking
Report finds $2.5 million in uncollected fees over last decade
Why some advocates oppose legislation requiring police get involved in human trafficking cases
Survivors say state, federal bills could put them in danger if passed
‘Their cases will never be heard’: Sex traffickers evade justice as child victims openly walk Pacific Northwest streets
Survivors, police frustrated with low convictions as reported sex trafficking soars in Washington and Oregon
Washington lawmaker vows to fix law that’s failing to help victims of child sex trafficking
Stakeholders discuss solutions in response to InvestigateWest article uncovering law’s failures