Washington – The prestigious ‘Service to America’ award honors the critical role local TV and radio stations play in communities across the country. The KCRA 3 investigates team spent a year gathering interviews and details to bring awareness to the crisis of sex trafficking in Sacramento and the powerful stories of survivors.

‘Escaping the Blade’ also led to action at California’s Capitol, and lawmakers cited the documentary several times during hearings on SB 1414 – legislation Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law that makes it a felony to purchase or solicit a child 15 years and younger for sex. Derek Schnell, KCRA 3 News Director and Hearst Television Regional Director of News, traveled to Washington, D.C. to accept the award.

Derek Schnell was joined by CA Senator Shannon Grove and the survivors who helped make the important documentary come to life. “We don’t do stories to win awards. We do stories to make changes. Behind me we have the lawmakers and some of the sex trafficking victims who were brave enough to tell us their stories to help make changes in California law. We want to say thank you to them.”