Klobuchar Bipartisan Legislation to Crack Down on Sex Trafficking and Support Victims Signed into Law by President

Press Release

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today announced that major bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and Senator Klobuchar has been signed into law by the president. The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act will help law enforcement further crack down on human traffickers, while bringing about greater restitution and justice for victims. A provision Klobuchar authored to help ensure that minors sold for sex aren't prosecuted as defendants, but are instead treated as victims, was also included as part of the legislation. The provision was modeled after Minnesota's "Safe Harbor" law and introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN). A recent report released by the Polaris Project, an anti-sex trafficking group, found that a majority of states lack safe harbor laws to protect victims.

"Today marks a major milestone in our effort to crack down on sex trafficking and deliver crucial support to victims of these horrific crimes," Klobuchar said. "By encouraging other states to adopt Minnesota's Safe Harbor model, this new law will give prosecutors additional tools to go after sex traffickers and help make sure that victims of sex trafficking are supported, not thrown behind bars. On average, girls first become victims of sex trafficking at 13 years old. This bill will help ensure that more of our young girls are able to go to school, play with their friends, and make plans for their future--rather than being sold for sex."

Klobuchar spoke on the Senate floor prior to Senate passage of the legislation. Video of Klobuchar's remarks is available here.

Klobuchar is a national leader in the fight to combat sex trafficking. Her bipartisan legislation modeled after Minnesota's "Safe Harbor" law gives incentives for all states to have a safe harbor provision to help ensure minors who are sold for sex aren't prosecuted as defendants, but are instead treated as victims. When a state passes a safe harbor law, it means that kids sold for sex should be steered towards child protection services, rather than being arrested, charged, or convicted under a state's criminal laws. The legislation is supported by the National Conference of State Legislatures, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Fraternal Order of Police, Shared Hope International, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, and United Methodist Women.

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act would help law enforcement further crack down on human traffickers in communities across the country while bringing about greater restitution and justice for victims. In addition to law enforcement provisions, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act helps victims rebuild their lives by using fines and penalties against perpetrators to improve the availability of victim services. The legislation included two funding streams: the first flows from fines collected on sex traffickers and would be used for survivor services including shelter and enforcement, but not health care, while the second would come from existing federal funds allocated for health care.

Source