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November 11, 2015 by SHI Staff

MICHIGAN NAMED MOST IMPROVED IN NEW STUDY ON CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING LAWS

Shared Hope International Releases State Report Cards to Reveal State of Trafficking Laws in U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Michigan was named the most improved state for its laws addressing child sex trafficking, according to a new study released by Shared Hope International. The Protected Innocence Challenge, a report on the state of child sex trafficking laws in the U.S., found that five years of sweeping legislative advancements allowed 47 states to raise their grade since 2011.

Michigan raised its grade from an “F” in 2014 to a “B” in 2015 after enacting new laws strengthening criminal provisions addressing buyers – the driving force of the commercial sex industry. While Michigan made substantial law changes in five years, the state has more work to do. Earning strong scores in most categories of the assessment, Michigan must strengthen protective provisions for child victims. Juvenile sex trafficking victims have access to specialized services through child welfare; however, 16 and 17-year-old victims remain subject to arrest and potential criminalization for prostitution offenses. Leaving the older minors subject to criminalization ignores the reality that these kids are vulnerable and frequently targeted by traffickers.

“Michigan tackled the driving force of child sex trafficking in 2015. They should be proud of the work they accomplished to combat demand and now press forward to ensure no child victim is banned access to the justice they deserve due to gaps in the law.” Linda Smith, President and Founder of Shared Hope International said.

In 2015, a record-setting 933 bills related to domestic minor sex trafficking were introduced in 50 states and D.C., resulting in the improvement of 14 state grades. Louisiana ranked top in the nation for the second year in a row, earning a 99.5 per cent. View the state grades.

The Protected Innocence Challenge was created to address key legislative gaps and makes recommendations for improvement so states can strengthen laws and implement effective state response. See all state grades at www.sharedhope.org/reportcards.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Taryn Offenbacher
Communications Director
703.351.8062 office / 602.818.3955 cell
Taryn@sharedhope.org

MEDIA MATERIALS

For media convenience, a variety of video clips and resources, including sex trafficking survivor comments, are available at this location: https://vimeo.com/user12564384/videos. Videos are password protected, please enter password sharedmedia1 to access media clips.

Shared Hope International is an anti-trafficking organization focusing on prevention, restoration and justice for victims of sex trafficking. Founded in 1998 by Congresswoman Linda Smith, Shared Hope is a trusted leader for training, research, restorative development, and legislative development

November 11, 2015 by SHI Staff

NEW STUDY REVEALS MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN OREGON LAWS TO FIGHT SEX TRAFFICKING

A New Study by Shared Hope International Shows Oregon’s Efforts May be Paying Off

WASHINGTON, D.C., Portland is believed to have the highest rate of strip clubs per capita and has been dubbed “Pornland,” but a new study by Shared Hope International shows Oregon’s effort to crack down on trafficking may be paying off. According to the Protected Innocence Challenge, a report on the sufficiency of state laws relating to domestic minor sex trafficking in the U.S., Oregon earned a “B” in 2015, with continuing efforts to strengthen state laws.

In 2015, Oregon legislators considered a new bill that would apply a commonly held courtroom protection for rape victims to victims of human trafficking. House Bill 3040 was an innovative approach to create a hearsay exception for human trafficking victims. The bill promoted the use of reliable evidence, including text messages, emails and other writings or statements from victims, at human trafficking trials while mitigating the risk of victim retraumatization. Despite significant local support, the bill did not pass the Senate Judiciary Committee. Committee Chair Senator Prozanski committed at a public hearing to establish a work group that will further consider hearsay exceptions for sex trafficking cases.

“While Oregon has made commendable strides forward, forcing victims to face their traffickers from the witness stand only continues that terror. A victim should never have to choose between justice and restoration.” Linda Smith, President and Founder of Shared Hope International said.

Historically, Oregon’s efforts to strengthen anti-trafficking laws paled in comparison to neighboring Washington. Washington created the first state Task Force Against Trafficking of Persons, enacted one of the first state trafficking laws, and in 2007 overhauled its laws criminalizing commercial sexual exploitation of children. As Washington strengthened its laws, enabling more aggressive investigation and prosecution, Oregon’s weak laws put it at risk of attracting Washington’s trafficking market. In 2013, the Oregon Legislature passed a new law that elevated the crime of purchasing sex with a minor to a felony. Since then, the Portland Police Bureau has conducted proactive sting operations to identify buyers seeking to purchase sex with a minor and to hold buyers accountable through felony prosecutions.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Taryn Offenbacher
Communications Director
703.351.8062 office / 602.818.3955 cell
Taryn@sharedhope.org

ABOUT THE PROTECTED INNOCENCE CHALLENGE: The Protected Innocence Challenge is a 41-component, comprehensive analysis of each state’s existing laws on domestic minor sex trafficking.
MEDIA MATERIALS

January 4, 2015 by SHI Staff