San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan  announced a coordinated trio of new programs that aims to bring human trafficking education, prevention and awareness training into every public school in San Diego County and protect children from exploitation under the umbrella of the newly-established San Diego Trafficking Prevention Collective. The announcement comes during national Human Trafficking Awareness Month and responds to FBI data showing San Diego ranks as one of the top 13 worst regions for human trafficking.[TWEET THIS]

The Collective obtained a three-year grant to fund the critical training, helping school districts comply with a law passed in 2017 requiring schools to provide a human trafficking curriculum. This first-of-its-kind public-private partnership will bring three unique programs to schools under the Collective’s umbrella: PROTECT, Project ROOTS, and kNOw MORE.

The Collective empowers students in elementary, middle and high school and teaches them about human trafficking in schools and neighborhoods, through a three pronged approach: in-school prevention education, after-school intervention, and interactive multimedia training.

The grant has been funded by the UBS Optimus Foundation, which identified San Diego as a region with opportunities to augment its approach to human trafficking prevention and education.

“Combatting human trafficking and protecting children from falling victim to this terrible form of modern-day slavery is one of my top public safety priorities,” DA Stephan said. “Human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the world in which traffickers profit by preying on unsuspecting children, luring them right out of their schools and homes with deception and lies. This first-of-its-kind human trafficking prevention education collective will arm our kids with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves and to engage with trusted adults to help them remain free of abuse and exploitation.”

[WATCH VIDEO OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT]

Recognizing the unfunded legislative mandate that schools must provide human trafficking education, DA Stephan worked to secure a public-private partnership to properly fund the curriculum and she coordinated with various San Diego County school districts to implement the three programs included in the Collective’s programming.

“UBS Optimus Foundation is proud to be a founding partner in this effort,” said Sally Faiz, Program Director of Child Protection for UBS Optimus Foundation. “Trafficking is a horror affecting over 400,000 people in the U.S. We see prevention as the most ‎desirable point to intervene, giving children the skills and knowledge they need to protect themselves from threat and keep safe. This collective, as a partnership of San Diego law enforcement, schools, philanthropists, business, universities and community nonprofits, builds a strong and resilient community. UBS is honored to be part of this group here in San Diego and to continue its active work supporting human-trafficking prevention across the U.S. and across the world.”

San Diego County ranks in the top three areas in the state for human trafficking and research estimates an underground sex economy worth $810 million a year. Victims can be anyone – women, men, children, U.S. citizens or foreign nationals. However, in the area of sex trafficking, minors are particularly vulnerable targets. Social media is one way traffickers access and exploit children.

“This investment allows the San Diego Unified School District to make sure our middle and high school teachers are fully informed and prepared for the fight against human trafficking,” said San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Cindy Marten. “We are deeply grateful to District Attorney Summer Stephan for supporting our efforts to keep students safe. Human trafficking is an issue San Diegans must confront together, and that is why we are proud to take part in this unique interagency effort being announced this morning.”

The ugly truth is that schools across San Diego County have confirmed that traffickers actively recruit children on or near school campuses and use social media to lure and manipulate victims. In fact, 90 percent of high schools studied in San Diego County identified cases of human trafficking involving students, according to a 2016 study done by Point Loma Nazarene University and the University of San Diego.

“We know that young people are especially vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking, which means schools must play an important part in addressing it,” said San Diego County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Gothold. “The San Diego County Office of Education is dedicated to supporting local school districts in prevention and intervention best practices to address the potential or actual victimization of our students. By taking a proactive approach to address the commercial sexual exploitation of children, we are more likely to reduce the incidents of human trafficking in our schools.”

So far, the school districts are using the free curriculum include the San Diego County Office of Education, The San Diego Unified School District, Sweetwater Union High School District, Escondido Union High School District, San Dieguito Union High School District, Poway Unified School District and San Pasqual Union Elementary School District.

“The San Diego Trafficking Prevention Collective and our schools are working toward reducing the vulnerability of children in our schools through trauma-informed education and training,” said Don Buchheit, the Regional Collective Director for San Diego. “Combating exploitation and protecting children takes an entire community. In San Diego, we are blessed to have our community working side by side under the leadership of the District Attorney’s Office. An educated child is a protected child.” [TWEET THIS]

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San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan appointed David Greenberg as the Assistant District Attorney following Jesus “Jesse” Rodriguez’ retirement last month. Greenberg has been a prosecutor for the San Diego District Attorney’s Office rising through the ranks for over 32 years. For the last 8 years, he served as Chief Deputy District Attorney overseeing various divisions within the DA’s Office, including Family Protection, Case Issuance, Gangs, Superior Court, Collaborative Courts and Information Technology. [TWEET THIS]

As Assistant DA, Greenberg will serve directly under the elected DA and direct all prosecution, investigative and support operations. He will oversee, with the DA’s administrative team, an agency-wide staff of more than 1,000 employees and a budget of $193 million.

“Dave brings his exceptional leadership and prosecutorial experience, sound judgment and unique expertise in leveraging technology innovations to this critical public safety position as second in command in our office,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan. “I look forward to working alongside Assistant DA Dave Greenberg to fulfill our mission of pursuing a fair and equal justice for all, protection of victims of crime, prosecution of those who harm our neighborhoods and smart crime prevention.”

During his distinguished three decades serving our region, Greenberg handled and tried serious felony cases, including murders with special circumstances and sexual assault cases. He has served in leadership positions within the DA’s Office that have included Chief of the South, East and North County Branches, Central Pretrial and Superior Court. In 2009, he worked as an Assistant San Diego City Attorney in charge of the Criminal Division.

He graduated with a History Degree from UCLA and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego. [TWEET THIS]

Assistant District Attorney Jesus “Jesse” Rodriguez, 67, who has been the second in command at the DA’s Office for nearly 16 years, will be retiring at the end of December. Rodriguez was recognized today by the County Board of Supervisors with a formal proclamation, presented by Supervisor Greg Cox, for his numerous and outstanding contributions to the County of San Diego.

Rodriguez became the first Hispanic Assistant District Attorney in the County of San Diego when he was appointed by former District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis in January 2003.  As Assistant District Attorney, he serves directly under the elected DA and directs all prosecution, investigative and support operations. Rodriguez oversees, with the DA’s administrative team, an agency-wide staff of more than 1,000 employees and a budget of $193 million. Rodriguez has been responsible for the development of numerous county-wide crime prevention strategies, innovative prosecution programs, and a victim services unit that serves some 15-thousand crime victims each year.

“The Honorable Jesse Rodriguez has devoted his life to public service and has been an icon in the legal profession,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan. “His exceptional contributions to criminal justice span more than 41 years of service as a Deputy Attorney General, a Superior Court Judge and the Assistant District Attorney. As an immigrant and as the first Hispanic to hold this high public safety office, Jesse has served as a role model and a beacon of inspiration when it comes to the values of diversity and inclusion.  I join the residents of San Diego County in expressing our gratitude to ADA Rodriguez, who is both an exceptional professional and human being.”

Before joining the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, Rodriguez was the Supervising Judge of both the San Diego Superior Court South County and Central Criminal Divisions for 13 years and also served as a Municipal Court Judge.  Prior to becoming a judge, he was an attorney in the Criminal Division of the California Attorney General’s Office in San Diego.

Rodriguez was born in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, and became a United States citizen at the age of 14. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of San Diego and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of  San Diego School of Law.

Rodriguez has also devoted his time as a member of various organizations, including the San Diego and California Judges Associations has served on the Board of Directors for the National Center for State Courts and the Advisory Board to Casa de Milagros, a recovery home for Hispanic women with alcohol problems.  He is a current member of the California District Attorneys Association.

Assistant District Attorney Jesus Rodriguez’ last day in office will be on December 28, 2018.

The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, along with 21 other California District Attorneys, the California Attorney General and the City Attorneys in San Diego and Los Angeles today announced a $7.4 million statewide settlement, including enhanced environmental compliance measures and injunctive terms, with Minnesota-based Target Corporation (Target). The settlement resolves allegations that Target violated state laws and injunctive terms from a 2011 stipulated judgment regarding the company’s handling and disposal of retail hazardous waste. [TWEET THIS]

“This settlement holds Target accountable for this second violation of environmental laws that involve the improper disposal of a long list of hazardous materials,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan. “This case serves as a reminder to corporations of the importance of environmental protection laws that safeguard the public’s health and that violators will be held accountable.” [TWEET THIS]

The current settlement comes as a result of investigations of Target’s conduct alleging that between 2012 and 2016 the company committed violations by improperly disposing hazardous waste into landfills across California and here in San Diego County. The waste included items such as electronics, batteries, aerosol cans, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and medical waste including syringes, over-the-counter and prescribed pharmaceuticals, as well as confidential medical information from its customers.

“We are confident that with these strong injunctive terms and penalties, Target will implement meaningful changes to prevent this from ever happening again,” said Attorney General Becerra. “However, the wise move for all companies is to abide by the law and employ proactive training and processes to help ensure that hazardous waste violations are avoided in the first place.”

This is the second settlement resolving allegations of Target’s hazardous waste compliance violations. In March 2009, the California Department of Justice and several local prosecutors filed a complaint against Target alleging that it violated state statutes and regulations governing the handling and disposal of hazardous waste. As part of the final settlement in 2011, Target agreed to pay $22.5 million for penalties, attorneys’ fees, and funding for supplemental environmental projects, and to comply with injunctive terms. These included annual compliance audits by an independent contractor and terms forbidding Target from disposing or causing the disposal of hazardous waste from any Target facility to any unauthorized location, landfill, or transfer station.

Throughout 2012 and 2014, representatives of district attorneys’ offices along with local regulatory agencies inspected Target’s trash compactors, finding many instances of additional violations. The prosecutors alleged that during that time, Target unlawfully disposed of a total of 2,038 items of hazardous waste, 175 items of confidential medical information of customers, and 94 items of medical waste. After notifying Target of the violations found, the People entered into an agreement with the company to revise the judgement entered as part of the 2011 settlement to resolve the violations detected by the prosecutors’ post-judgement investigation. [TWEET THIS]

The revised final judgement terms approved by the Alameda County Superior Court include:

• $3.2 million in civil penalties;
• $300,000 for funding of Supplemental Environmental Projects undertaken by entities other than Target, including $50,000 to conduct education classes and programs for owners and operators of small businesses located in low income and minority areas in California;
• Additional requirements that Target expend at least $3 million to conduct three annual inspections and audits of 12 facilities, and provide reports to the Attorney General and local prosecutors, and create and implement a customer trash receptacle inspection and management program; and
• $900,000 for attorneys’ fees, and costs of investigation and enforcement.

The San Diego County District Attorney’s office will receive $300,000 in civil penalties and $43,330 in enforcement costs. Joining the DA’s Office in filing this settlement are the Counties of Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa, Fresno, Humboldt, Kings, Los Angeles, Merced, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Stanislaus, Tulare, Ventura, and Yolo; and the Cities of Los Angeles and San Diego.

The San Diego County District Attorney’s Environmental Protection Unit is part of the DA’s Economic Crimes Division which is responsible for prosecuting a wide variety of wrongdoing, including computer intrusion, identity theft, investment scams, embezzlements, real estate matters, counterfeit goods, environmental crimes and the theft of public assistance funds. The division also acts to protect consumers and businesses by successfully filing numerous civil cases to prohibit unfair business practices within the marketplace. [TWEET THIS]