Very Local documentary tells story of sex trafficking survivors, features Oklahoma judge
A powerful new documentary will hit a streaming app powered by KOCO 5 A new documentary, "Breaking Chains," tells the story of sex trafficking survivors and features Oklahoma judge Heather Russell. The documentary explores the power of second-chance situations and the struggles of these individuals to overcome. The show also includes a discussion with Judge Heather Holsell, who has been involved in the CHANGE COURT Program in Ohio for a decade. Holsell discusses her own struggle to gain custody of her son, who she credits for helping him get back on track. The film is part of a larger effort to raise awareness about sex trafficking in Oklahoma. It also discusses the nature of this issue and its portrayal of these crimes across the country.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Abigail Ogle, https://www.facebook.com/AbigailOgle in Entertainment General
COMING UP. SOME OF THESE WOMEN HAVE BEEN OUT HERE FOR 20 YEARS. IT’S LIKE GROUNDHOG DAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THERE’S NOTHING THAT ANYBODY HAS DONE THAT YOU CAN’T GET OVER AND CAN’T MOVE FORWARD. A POWERFUL NEW DOCUMENTARY STREAMING APP, VERY LOCAL. IT’S CALLED BREAKING CHAINS SURVIVING SEX TRAFFICKING AND THE POWER OF SECOND CHANCES. THIS TELLS THE STORY OF TRAFFICKING VICTIMS AND THE ODDS THAT THEY MUST OVERCOME TO REGAIN THEIR LIVES. AND NOW WE’RE TALKING WITH THE JUDGE FEATURED IN THAT SHOW. JUDGE HEATHER RUSSELL, WHO OVERSEES A COURT PROGRAM, TO GIVE THESE VICTIMS A SECOND CHANCE. JUDGE RUSSELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND FOR BEING A PART OF THIS DOCUMENTARY. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. YOU HAVE BEEN RUNNING THE CHANGE COURT PROGRAM THERE IN OHIO FOR FOR A DECADE. IS THERE A PARTICULAR CASE OR MAYBE A VICTIM THAT REALLY STICKS OUT TO YOU WHEN YOU THINK BACK OVER YOUR TEN YEARS, ONE OF THE VERY FIRST PEOPLE TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE PROGRAM IS SOMEONE I FEEL VERY CLOSE TO BECAUSE SHE WAS ABLE TO EDUCATE ME. SHE TOOK A CHANCE ON ME BECAUSE IT WAS A NEW PROGRAM, AND NO ONE HAD EVER OFFERED HER TREATMENT BEFORE. SHE REGAINED CUSTODY OF HER SON AND AND WHEN AND HER DAUGHTERS. BUT SPECIFICALLY HER SON, WHO SHE HADN’T SEEN, HE HAD BEEN FLUNKING OUT IN SCHOOL. SHE GOT HIM BACK ON TRACK. HE GRADUATED AS VALEDICTORIAN FROM HIS HIGH SCHOOL. WOW. I MEAN, THAT’S TRULY, TRULY BREAKING THE CHAINS. YOU KNOW, FOR GENERATIONS. I LOVE THAT STORY. THAT GIVES ME CHILLS TO HEAR THAT AND TO HEAR HOW MUCH HE WAS ABLE TO TURN HIS LIFE AROUND. UNFORTUNATELY, WE KNOW THAT SEX TRAFFICKING PLAGUES COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE COVER IT HERE IN OKLAHOMA FOR MAYBE SOMEONE WHO ISN’T FAMILIAR WITH HOW SOMEONE MIGHT FIND THEMSELVES IN THAT LIFE, WHAT EXACTLY IS SEX TRAFFICKING AND HOW DOES IT HAPPEN? OKAY, SO THERE’S COMPONENTS TO SEX TRAFFICKING AND THE BIG COMPONENT IS YOU’RE ENGAGED IN PROSTITUTION. OFTEN. BUT IF IF SO, A PROSTITUTE THERE’S USUALLY THE PROSTITUTION OFFERING SERVICES AND WHAT WE CALL A JOHN OFFERING PAYMENT. AND THERE’S A BUSINESS CONTRACT. IT BECOMES A SEX TRAFFICKING SITUATION. OFTEN IS INVOLVED, WHICH IS A PIMP WHO’S SETTING UP THE THE BUSINESS DEAL AND WHO IN EXCHANGE MAY BE OFFERING PROTECTION TO THE PROSTITUTE, MAY CARRY A GUN, KEEPS THE MONEY, KEEPS CONTROL OF THE PROSTITUTE. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO LEAVE THAT SITUATION ONCE YOU’RE STUCK? WELL, FOR ONE THING, AT THE POINT THAT THEY’VE BECOME A SEX TRAFFICKED PERSON, THEY HAVE COMPLETELY LOST ALL SENSE OF THEMSELVES AS. AND THEY MAY HAVE BEEN THREATENED BY THEIR TRAFFICKER, AND THEY MAY HAVE THEIR THEIR BRAIN IS ADDLED NOW BECAUSE OF THE DRUGS THEY’RE ON. SO THEY DON’T HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS OR GOOD JUDGMENTS. IT BECOMES A VERY DISTRUSTING, A VERY HOPELESS LIFESTYLE. AND AND YOU JUST BECOME STUCK IN THAT PLACE. SO I’M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE DOCUMENTARY. SEE JUDGE HEATHER RUSSELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU. WHAT YOU’RE DOING, FOR WHAT YOU’RE DOING ON BEHALF OF THESE VICTIMS. TRULY CHANGING LIVES. STAY WITH US. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. AND YOU CAN STREAM BREAKING CHAINS SURVIVING SEX TRAFFICKING AND THE POWER OF SECOND CHANCES. RIGHT NOW, OR DOWNLOAD THE VERY LOCAL APP POWERED BY KOCO FIVE. IT’S A FREE APP YOU CAN DOWNLOAD IT ON YOUR ROKU, YOUR AMAZON FIRE TV. JUST DOWNLOAD IT TO YOUR PHONE AND YOU CAN WA
Topics: Crime, Social Issues, Documentaries, Human Trafficking