COOK COUNTY, Ill. () — Sex trafficking is built on coercion and control, drawing people into systems designed to exploit their bodies, labor and lives.
“There’s definitely gratification in the work, because our unit is comprised of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking survivors,” said Cyndi Kenzinger, executive director of Victim Support Services at the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. “We have a team of people who have lived through many of the experiences faced by those we serve.”
Kenzinger told the I-Team that her unit works directly with sex-trafficking survivors as they navigate the challenging process of rebuilding their lives—whether or not prosecutors ultimately bring a case to trial.
“Even if there isn’t a case, we’re still going to work with the person in crisis,” Kenzinger said. Survivors may seek therapy, help from social-service agencies, job training or employment assistance, she explained. In many cases, they also need something as basic as transportation to reach those services.
Through community partnerships, the Sheriff’s Victim Support Services offers Cook County survivors free rides, groceries and referrals to critical mental-health and housing resources.
Across Illinois, however, the need for support remains extensive.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline recorded at least 279 Illinois cases last year involving sex trafficking alone or alongside forced labor. Those cases represented hundreds of survivors.
Chicago police have reported 20 sex-trafficking incidents so far this year, the highest annual total recorded since at least 2008. Advocates and officials say the actual number of people being trafficked is likely considerably higher.
