According to information provided by Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin, a Safe Schools Task Force meeting took place on April 24.

The task force is designed to help educators and members of law enforcement meet challenges they encounter in the schools. Past meetings have covered topics such as gang activity, sexting, drugs, the juvenile justice system, school threats and the impact of students’ mental health on school safety.

This meeting was attended by Lehigh County school administrators and resource officers, members of law enforcement, representatives from the county department of drug and alcohol, juvenile probation, and members of the district attorney’s staff.

A presentation on human trafficking was first on the agenda.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Robert Schopf, who has prosecuted several cases of human trafficking in Lehigh County, explained that any minor engaged in prostitution is considered a victim of human trafficking and will not be prosecuted for that crime or other related offenses.

He encouraged school administrators and resource officers to notify the district attorney’s office if they suspect a student is being victimized or engaging in prostitution.

An investigation would then be conducted by experienced members of law enforcement who have familiarity handling these complex and often challenging cases.

Homeland Security Investigations Agent Stephanie Snyder shared some statistics about human trafficking.

Snyder said human trafficking is a $32 billion business, second only to drug trafficking in terms of revenue generated.

Victimization usually starts when the victim is in his or her early teens. The average age is 13.

According to Snyder, studies indicate a person caught up in human trafficking is forced to engage in five to six sex acts a day.

Indicators for spotting victims, many of which mirror behaviors of those struggling with substance abuse, include a decline in grades, a change in behavior or appearance, and emotional outbursts.

In addition, Snyder said the appearance of an older “boyfriend,” sudden access to designer clothes as well as tattooing of a name on the victim’s neck can be signs that person is under control of a pimp or trafficker.

Southern Lehigh High School Assistant Principal Thomas Ruhf described the Navigate Prepared software application in use in that district.

The program allows staff to access accurate and consistent communication during an emergency situation.

Elements such as current safety plans and protocols are made available to staff members via their personal devices, so information can be immediately retrieved in the event of a crisis.

A component of the program is the uploading of floor and site plans of district schools and facilities, including 360 degree photos of the included areas.

The information and images can be disseminated by Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center to members of law enforcement who are called to respond to an incident at a given school.

This provides police with the ability to identify specific areas and plan their response with greater efficiency and accuracy.

Det. Sgt. Dane Carroll, of the Upper Saucon Police Department, commented on the software.

“Navigate Prepared is a mechanism to take a threat and have the tools to manage it,” Carroll said.

Upper Saucon Chief of Police Thomas Nicoletti spoke about some relatively inexpensive but effective protocols he has put in place to help ensure school safety for Southern Lehigh.

For example, patrol officers are instructed to stop at every school in the district, park in front of the building and do a walk-through of the facility.

This gives officers familiarity with the site as well as with the students and staff and vice versa.

“It is part of my office’s continuing effort to foster communication and share information between the various agencies and groups working in and with our schools to ensure a safe environment for students and staff where productive learning and meaningful activities can occur,” Martin said. “I want to thank Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey Dimmig for coordinating this meeting.

“As he’s done for prior meetings, he has brought together a group of presenters who have important and timely information to share with the attendees.”