Bethel Republican's Human Trafficking Bill Goes to Governor

HARTFORD, CT — A bill designed to ramp up penalties for human traffickers in Connecticuthas passsed through both the House and Senate. Co-sponsored by Rep. Will Duff (R-Bethel), the bill expands the definition of human trafficking and increases penalties for those who commit the crimes.

The passage of the bill comes after three men were convicted in a Danbury-based human trafficking ring, which targeted young men with psychological disabilities.

“In Connecticut, those caught trafficking people must and should be severely punished. This legislation carries the charge of a class ‘A’ felony which means they can face up to 25 years in prison,” said Duff in a statement. “Additionally, this legislation takes a strong stand by changing the penalty for patronizing a minor who is being sold for sex to a class ‘A’ felony.”

The bill would make the following changes.

• Expands the conduct punishable as a trafficking and increases the penalty for the crime.
• Prohibits someone age 16 or 17 from being convicted of prostitution.
• Expands the crime of Enticing a Minor to include enticing a minor age 16 or 17; current law applies to minors under age 16. By law, a person commits this crime by using an interactive computer service to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, or coerce a minor to engage in prostitution or illegal sexual activity.
• Imposes a $2,000 fine for Patronizing a Prostitute from a Motor Vehicle.
• Subjects someone who patronizes a prostitute to this penalty regardless of whether he or she knows or should know the prostitute's age or status as a trafficking victim. By law, a class C felony is punishable by one to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. By law, other forms of patronizing a prostitute are punishable as a class A misdemeanor. The bill requires a court to impose a $2,000 fine for this crime.
• Requires using money collected from the mandatory $2,000 fines for State Police and local police prostitution and human trafficking investigations.
• Requires more people to post a notice developed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator about services for human trafficking victims. By law, this notice must state the toll-free state and federal anti-trafficking hotline numbers that someone can call if he or she is forced to engage in an activity and cannot leave.
• Increases the membership of the Trafficking in Persons Council

"Lets end this barbaric and inhuman practice in our state,” said Duff.

Image via the office of Rep. Will Duff.