By Eddie Capparucci, LPC, CSAS, CPCS

Greek mythology tells the story of Hydra, a serpent-like monster with many heads. What was also unique about Hydra is if one of its heads were cut off, two more would grow back in its place. It seems like that’s the way it has become with sex-trafficking these days.

After a tremendous public outcry, in 2018 Backpage.com was seized by federal authorities and the owners of the website were indicted on federal charges of facilitating prostitution and money laundering. It was a significant victory for those advocating against sex trafficking.

But this modern-day Hydra also has many heads. And as quickly as Backpage.com was put out of business there springs up Skip the Games, which portrays itself as a dating site but is nothing more than a front for promoting prostitution.

In recent months, a police task force in the Leigh Valley area of Pennsylvania has been cracking down on individuals who advertise on Skip the Games. Its efforts have netted numerous arrests, and that’s encouraging news. However, what police officials are discovering as they interview the women arrested is a vast majority of these ladies were forced into selling their bodies to strangers. Continue reading “Proactively Attacking Sex-Trafficking” →