Chatham Co. group hosts semiannual human trafficking meeting; Sheriff, assistant DA talk what they’re doing to fight it

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Chatham County ranks 6th in Georgia — and 2nd outside of the Atlanta area — in reported cases of minor sex trafficking, according to the local nonprofit Tharros Place, which serves survivors of human trafficking.

It’s a sobering statistic in a state where 804 children and teens were trafficked in 2024 alone.

Most of those victims were between 14 and 17 years old, adding to the millions of trafficking survivors already spread across the country.

“We are learning that is a very big deal,” Chatham County Sheriff Richard Coleman said during a recent stakeholder meeting, underscoring how deeply the issue is felt here in Savannah and Chatham County.

Why Chatham County Is Vulnerable

Local leaders say there is no single reason human trafficking has taken root in Savannah and Chatham County.

Instead, it’s a combination of risk factors that create an environment where exploitation can thrive.

“There are a lot of factors that contribute to that,” Tharros Place Executive Director, Julia Wade, said. “Our high poverty rate, frankly, our festive downtown, and being close to the I-95 corridor.”

Human trafficking is broadly defined as the exploitation of another person for sex, labor, or services.

Advocates stress that it rarely looks like what is portrayed in movies.

Instead, it often involves young girls or boys in vulnerable situations being groomed, manipulated, or controlled by someone they know or trust.

Sheriff’s Human Trafficking Unit Shows Early Progress

In response to the growing problem, Chatham County Sheriff Richard Coleman created a dedicated Human Trafficking Unit in September.

The unit has already made multiple arrests and has been directly involved in rescuing survivors, including a 15-year-old girl taken out of a trafficking situation.

“It’s working pretty well for the Chatham County community and for us,” Sheriff Coleman said, noting that the early results show the value of a focused, specialized team.

But he emphasized that this is only the beginning.

“We want to continue these relationships, gather resources for support, and continue to support the community to ensure we help these victims of people who are being victimized by this heinous crime,” he said.

The District Attorney’s office is also working alongside the Sheriff’s Office, aligning prosecution strategies with victim-centered approaches and sharing what they are seeing on the ground with community partners.

Tharros Place: From Good Care to “Exceptional” Care

While law enforcement works to identify traffickers and rescue victims, organizations like Tharros Place step in to support survivors as they rebuild their lives.

Tharros Place provides a broad range of services, including:

• Safe housing
• Medical and mental health support
• Help with education and daily living skills
• Assistance transitioning back into school, work, and community life

After more than three years of serving the area, Executive Director Julie Wade says the organization has evolved significantly.

“We did well early; I think we are doing exceptional care now,” Wade said. “Really just trying to improve the outcomes for our young people. Our services have gotten more individualized, really focusing on the needs of each particular girl and what their hopes and dreams are, not what our hopes and dreams are.”

That shift toward individualized, survivor-led care is central to their model. Staff work closely with each young person to understand their goals, interests, and sense of safety, then build a plan around those priorities.

Community Stakeholder Meetings: Learning the Signs, Sharing Solutions

Much of the recent progress was shared at Tharros Place’s semiannual stakeholder meeting on Thursday, where community members, service providers, and law enforcement gathered to talk about what human trafficking looks like locally and how to respond.

These meetings aim to:

• Educate people about the realities and impact of human trafficking in Chatham County and beyond
• Teach community members how to recognize warning signs
• Highlight the resources available for survivors and families
• Strengthen relationships among agencies working on the issue

Tharros Place designed the stakeholder meetings as an entry point for residents who want to learn more and become part of the solution.

Participants hear directly from law enforcement, prosecutors, service providers, and sometimes survivors, helping them understand how complex — and how close to home — trafficking can be.

Tharros Place holds two of these meetings each year, featuring different speakers and topics.

The next meeting is expected to be held in either Bryan or Liberty County, expanding the conversation beyond Chatham’s borders and inviting neighboring communities into the fight.