The call of duty did not end when our professional volunteers at Saved in America retired from their notable careers as military specialists like Navy SEALs or former law enforcement officers.  Instead, this group of experts has committed their post-career time to rescuing victims of human trafficking. Private investigator and co-founder of our organization Joseph Travers launched Saved in America to do just that with a 100% success rate since our inception. 

The Surprising Reality of Human Trafficking

According to our founder Travers' son, Joshua Travers, a former U.S. Marine and case manager for Saved in America, the reality of human trafficking as it exists today in America is surprising to many. He explains:

“People don’t realize this is going on in their backyards. This isn’t in some faraway country with very poor people. This could be your next-door neighbor, your child, or anyone's child. A lot of these kids are from middle-class families in the United States. They aren’t incredibly poor or involved in abuse or bad situations.” 

It’s a Partnership

Saved in America doesn’t operate in a vacuum. Instead, they work hand-in-hand with local law enforcement to organize rescues and promote public safety above all. Mike Williams, Sheriff of Duval County Florida said the following about the way Saved in America works with local law enforcement to counteract human trafficking:

“It is partnerships such as this that play a significant role in law enforcement today, not only from a public safety standpoint but also as an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those who have been victimized.” 

Finding Runaways Before the Bad Guys 

Saved in America knows that runaways are at a higher risk of being trafficked than the general population of teens. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children states that one in every seven runways is likely to become a victim of the sex trafficking industry. This means that when a young girl goes missing and is suspected to be a runway, time is of the essence to find her before the bad guys, the predators, pimps, and cartels can find her and begin using her for profit. Thankfully, Saved in America has been successful at finding these girls before they are taken into human trafficking. This is how a group of exceptional individuals, our volunteer force, are spending their well-deserved retirement, serving as modern-day heroes.