Will County State’s Attorney donates $5,000 to help victims of trafficking, exploitation

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow donated $5,000 to Reclaim13, a nonprofit dedicated to ending sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

The donation was made on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, which is observed every year on Jan. 11, as part of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, according to a news release from Glasgow.

“Human trafficking is a horrible, nearly $100 billion criminal industry where people profit from the imposed misery and forced servitude of other people,” Glasgow said in a statement.

Glasgow said his contribution to Lombard-based Reclaim13 was funded entirely with money forfeited by criminals, without the use of any taxpayer money.

Reclaim13 provides “critically important education and prevention programs” to address sexual exploitation, Glasgow said.

The nonprofit also operates Cherish House, a safe house for trafficked minors between 10 and 17.

“This specialized resource provides physical safety and a loving environment where girls are supported by highly experienced staff as they gain the skills they need to live a productive life beyond exploitation,” Glasgow said.

Cassandra Ma, Reclaim13 founder, said in a statement 13 is an age when a child is “especially vulnerable to sexual exploitation, and ‘reclaim’ is literally what we do.”

“Our mission is to save children impacted by sexual exploitation so they can reclaim their lives,” Ma said.

In 1995, Glasgow established the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center to “provide hope, healing and justice to victims of child sexual abuse.”

“Programs like those offered by Reclaim13 and the Will County CAC help these children focus on healing and give them the opportunity for a positive and productive life despite the trauma they endured,” Glasgow said.