DCS Talks with Pierce Beckham and Dr. Martha Wike about National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

DCS Talks

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and DCS Talks invited two subject matter experts, Pierce Beckham the Senior Director of Investigations in the Office of Child Safety and Dr. Martha Wike a clinical psychologist in the Knoxville region at DCS. Both guests are instrumental in policy development, training delivery, service provisions and data analysis to address the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Minors in Tennessee. Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Minors involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of commercial sex act with a minor. It can happen in any community and victims can be any race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use violence, manipulation, or false promises of romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations. DCS works with a wide network of partners to address CSEM including state and federal law enforcement, court systems, legislators, service providers and community members to address this complex social problem.