HCJC Safe Harbor Coordinator Recognized for Putting Traffickers Behind Bars

(Pictured above: Liz Igoe, HCJC Administrator, Jodi Stanton, Judge Kari Bloom, HCJC Administrative Judge)

The work done by Hamilton County Juvenile Court Safe Harbor/Anti-Trafficking Coordinator Jodi Stanton is painful and painstaking. She uses a screening tool when she meets with detained youth, mostly teenage girls, to help determine if they are victims of sex trafficking or at risk of being trafficked in any way.

This month, for her tremendous work building rapport and trust with victims, and leading authorities to alleged perpetrators, Jodi received the 2025 Project Safe Child, Shield of Innocents Award from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“Jodi’s work with three juvenile victims led to the FBI investigating and our office bringing charges against and convicting two defendants,” said Dominic Gerace, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio.

One of the defendants, Kelly Richards, is serving a 40 year prison sentence for trafficking two teen victims. The other, Payton Brown, is serving more than 13 years and was forced to forfeit his home and pay his victim $57,000 in restitution.

Gerace said prosecuting these types of cases is difficult because victims are reluctant to cooperate. Safe Harbor programs are designed to identify, support and help victims build trust. A grant from the U.S. Department of Justice in 2022 allowed Hamilton County Juvenile Court to establish a Safe Harbor program. Jodi, a 27-year veteran in the field of criminal justice, mostly with juveniles, was tasked with building the program and continues to oversee it. She is also a certified trainer for other jurisdictions.

In her award letter, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says, “Our juvenile victims are too often left to face their darkest days alone, it is important to recognize and honor the good work, long hours, and sacrifice that people, like yourself, are making to have an enormous impact in our society. Your hard work and dedication are a testament you, the Safe Harbor program, and the Hamilton County Juvenile Court, that you represent.

Thank you to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for recognizing Jodi’s dedicated service to marginalized and at-risk children.

(Pictured above: Jodi Stanton, Dominic Gerace,  U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio)