Issue Position: Crime

Issue Position

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The national Polaris Project named Virginia law as one of the most improved in their 2011 rankings. I was please to receive this email: "Thank you for everything you did and for being one of our champions on this important issue. If it weren't for you efforts on HB 1893/1898 the law would not be nearly as strong as it is today."

Changes in the law are fully discussed in this link. In brief, human trafficking was brought fully under Virginia's abduction and kidnapping laws. Anyone who participates in any way to bring about an abduction is as guilty as the person who actually holds the person and -- as it relates to most human trafficking -- the penalty is 20 years to life. Abduction of any one under 18 for the purpose of manufacturing child pornography was added to Virginia law. In addition, where a connection to an abduction can't be proven, anyone who benefits from making anyone engage in forced labor or services, concubinage, prostitution, or the manufacture of any obscene material or child pornography can be sentenced to 2 to 10 years in prison

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