Put Trafficking Victims First Act: Better Support, Data, and Prosecution of Traffickers.
This Act aims to fundamentally shift how human trafficking victims are treated, prioritizing their safety, support, and recovery over criminalization. It mandates the establishment of expert working groups to improve data collection on trafficking prevalence and requires the Attorney General to report on efforts to secure restitution for victims. Citizens should see a move towards trauma-informed care, ensuring victims are identified and receive necessary services, including the ability to clear criminal records related to their victimization.
Key points
Victim Identification First: Law enforcement must make every attempt to determine if an individual is a trafficking victim before arresting or charging them with related offenses.
Restitution Focus: The Attorney General must report on efforts to increase the amount of restitution paid to human trafficking victims by their abusers.
Child Victims Treated as Children: Child victims of sex trafficking must be treated as children in need of protective services, not as juvenile offenders.
Clearing Criminal Records: States are encouraged to adopt procedures allowing victims to clear or expunge convictions and adjudications for nonviolent offenses resulting directly from being trafficked.
Data Improvement: An expert working group will be established to identify barriers and recommend practices for better data collection and analysis on the incidence of sex and labor trafficking.
Expired
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