There's a push right now in our state to strengthen laws and punishments against those who traffic human beings for profit.
A group made up of police, survivors, and their advocates is trying to collect enough signatures to get a measure on the November ballot. A Bakersfield film maker already supports it.
Children for sale is the subject of a movie coming out this fall, called "Trade of Innocents." Bakersfield's Jim Schmidt is the co-producer.
"I think there's a special place for people like this and the punishment should be tougher," Schmidt said.
Tougher legislation is the goal of Californians Against Sexual Exploitation Act, or the CASE act.
In Sacramento Thursday, CASE said this measure will crack down on traffickers who profit from child prostitution.
"I can only say unscrupulous can only begin to describe the character and the nature of the people who traffic individuals," said Assemblyman Roger Dickinson.
The movie, "Trade of Innocents", is set in Cambodia but, Jim Schmidt says it's a global issue that reaches into our own backyards.
"If you extrapolate out the national statistics it would tell you that it really exists everywhere," Schmidt said.
"Under this proposed law the children would be considered victims. As it stands, if a child is picked up, they can be thrown in jail for prostitution."
"I remember standing on the corner of 10th and L, at 13 years old," said Dellena Hoyer a survivor of human trafficking.
Dellena Hoyer was a child prostitute, not of her own choosing, and says current laws should change.
"I was that girl who went to juvenile hall and I was shamed. I was charged with prostitution. I was re-victimized over and over and over," Hoyer said.
"It's going to take a lot of attention, a lot of people talking about it, and a lot of people with power and influence to really make a difference," Schmidt said.
In a recent national report by the anti-sex trafficking group Shared Hope, California received an "F" for its laws to protect children against sex trafficking.
The movie, "Trade of Innocents" is due out in September.
