In Rhode Island, Convicted Sex Traffickers are Now Sex Offenders for Life

RHODE ISLAND—Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimindo has signed into law legislation that requires convicted sex traffickers to register as sex offenders for life.

That means pimps caught trafficking victims in the state will have to notify the community and keep an address on file with police upon release from prison.

The legislation (2016-H 7318 Sub A/ 2016-S 2516 Sub A), was sponsored by Rep. Robert E. Craven, Sr. (D-Dist. 32, North Kingstown) and Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin (D- Dist. 1, Providence).

“There is no difference between sex traffickers and sex offenders. Both are dangerous types of people that prey upon the innocent and sex traffickers should be on the same list that warns the public about these predators,” Craven said in a statement. “This legislation will keep our families, friends, and communities safer from these despicable individuals.”

Lawmakers said sex trafficking is "the world's fastest growing criminal enterprise" and valued at about $32-billion per year, globally.

In Rhode Island, at least 30 people have been charged with a sex trafficking crime over the past two years, including teenagers trafficking other teenagers and a woman in her 20s caught prostituting a minor victim in a sex trafficking sting in Cranston earlier this year.

Most recently, a West Kingston businessman with a residence in East Greenwich was charged with sex trafficking after he turned to police to say he was being extorted by two Massachusetts men who delivered a young girl to him to have sex with.

“The individuals who capitalize on the selling of a person, mostly young women against their will, for sexual commercialization are sexual predators and rightfully will now be subject to the same rigorous classification and community notification standards as those convicted of other sex offenses,” said Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin. “It is extremely troubling that we have seen an increase in human trafficking over the past few years, and we need every possible prosecutorial tool to stop the traffickers and get assistance to the victims. I applaud the General Assembly for taking bold action in the past few years to address this growing problem, including the passage of this legislation today.”