Founder of local facility that supports trafficking victims explains sex offender rumor
LOUDONVILLE - The rumor was correct that there was a registered sex offender living at Rahab’s Hope of Ohio facility, but that designation was unfair, says Dr. Marlene Carson, who founded the local business with the mission of supporting victims of sex trafficking.
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“We had a resident who was controlled by a trafficker,” Carson explained. “An action that should have been a rescue, turned into an arrest. She was forced into prostitution, and had no choice in the matter, but when arrested, in the eyes of the law, while she was being forced by the trafficker to post other victims, including herself, on social media apps, doing so made her a registered sex offender.
“In cases like this, the label is unfair,” added Carson, who was a trafficking victim herself. “This girl was victimized and had been in the hands of the trafficker until her arrest, after she had turned 18.
“There is a law called Safe Harbor, which allows victims charged with a crime to enroll in diversion programs such as health and trauma education that, if completed successfully, could lead to expungement,” Carson continued. “Had the law been applied in her case, the victim would have never been treated like a criminal.”
Loudonville Police Chief Kevin Taylor: The way sexual offender designations are assigned can be unfair
Loudonville Police Chief Kevin Taylor agreed with Carson that the way sexual offender designations are assigned can be unfair.
“That is all handled by the courts,” Taylor said. “It is unfortunate if that is what is occurring. Every case should be evaluated on an individual basis. Sex/human trafficking is a horrific thing for a victim to go through. It sounds like some things need to be reevaluated and possibly changed.”
Carson has run Rahab’s Hope for Ohio Facility since late 2020. It has the capacity to support up to 10 victims of trafficking.
The women at Rahab Hope live in what Carson calls “very nice living units.” Due to the name, ‘Rahab,’ they are often mistaken as in a rehabilitation facility. However, Carson is adamant that residents are not in rehab.
“Ladies here must be free from addiction and serious about their own self-care,” Carson said '
Rahab's Hope of Ohio designed to build self-reliance
Programs at Rahab’s are designed to build self-reliance.
For instance, the center will begin a second year of operating Harvey’s Mobile Market starting May 1, where fruit and produce from Harvey’s Market in Holmes County is sold at the facility.
“Also, we just put in a TV studio where we can produce informational shows on YouTube,” Carson said. “We are willing to share this facility with local groups, Check our website, rehabshopeofohio.org, for information.”
Carson said she also plans to install a movie screen on her property outdoors this summer and will invite community residents to enjoy the movies shown.
“Our people here just want to be treated like people,” Carson said.
She also expressed ongoing appreciation to the community for being “very supportive of the work we do here, particularly some of the churches in the area.”
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Rahab's Hope of Ohio facility owner says sexual predator tag unfair
