This week's Someone 2 Know is a victim advocate - she provides support and services to young people and adults who have been identified as victims of human trafficking.
Based at the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, Alecia Hardiman is a civilian working alongside a regional team of law enforcement agencies to help survivors
We caught up with Hardiman at the Washoe County jail.
Whether a person is incarcerated or not, victim advocate Alecia Hardiman offers support for those who have been harmed by traffickers. Often, it's women who have been sexually exploited.
She asks a woman at the detention center - "Can you tell me a little bit about your situation? Are you currently in the life right now?"
"The Life" is a term commonly used to describe the subculture of prostitution. It's something law enforcement in Washoe County has changed its perspective on - no longer viewing all involved as criminals. Sgt. Kellie Bond, with Reno PD, and supervisor of the HEAT unit explains. "Since this unit has been created in 2020 we have not arrested a single victim for a prostitution-related offense.”
That until is a regional effort, called Human Exploitation And Trafficking or H.E.A.T.
"Our HEAT team is extremely unique because we have a very victim centered approach,” shares Hardiman. She is embedded with the team as the advocate for victims.
"I just care so much about our victims, I just really truly believe our community and every individual needs to be heard.”
Hardiman says, when it comes to sex trafficking, it's complicated.
"A lot of the times that we encounter them they don’t see themselves as victims and so, having them understand, you know, the trauma that they're going through and their situation in general, sometimes it takes some time.”
Time that she is committed to giving. Hardiman says the program is unique in that it provides long term services - from the ground up.
"As soon as I make contact with them, providing immediate services - as far as getting them clothes, food, any kind of immediate housing - safety. And then we kinda start working on, you know, it could be detox, or services out of state."
Hardiman also started an outreach program at Washoe County jail to encourage victims to self-identify while in custody for other offenses.
Sergeant Bond says Hardiman is a game changer. "We have been far more successful and we have taught law enforcement agencies across the country this approach,” affirms Sgt. Bond, “Because we are seeing our survivors way more willing to go through prosecution because they have the support behind them.”
Support in the form of Alecia Hardiman -
"I'm very honored I'm able to work with each individual. I just, I love my job,” she smiles broadly.
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Since 2020, Alecia Hardiman and the H.E.A.T. team have helped more than 850 victims of trafficking, 338 people last year alone.
The Human Exploitation And Trafficking unit is a regional team, with law enforcement from Washoe County Sheriff's Office, Reno and Sparks Police Departments, plus Washoe County School District, UNR and tribal police.
Hardiman's position is paid for by grants and funding from the non-profit Save Our Survivors.
Supporting Our Survivors is a local nonprofit that financially assists law enforcement in prosecuting sex traffickers - last year SOS obtained the funds to pay for an entire year salary for Alecia Hardiman.
May 16, 2024 there is a fundraiser golf tournament to raise money to continue to support HEAT and other agencies. If you have any questions call Ronda Clifton at 775-544-4497.
