Thursday, February 10, 2022
Human trafficking continues to be a growing concern across Indiana. According to the 2020 Indiana State Report on Human Trafficking, there were 157 human trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH) in 2019, which was a 19% increase from 2018. With incidents reported in almost all 92 counties, Senate Republicans have presented a bill that would work to decrease the number of human trafficking cases by increasing penalties for criminals involved.
Under current law, individuals who purchase the services of a trafficked person receive a less severe penalty than the trafficker. Senate Bill 155 would make the penalty equal for both parties at a Level 4 Felony for both parties.
In addition, since most trafficked individuals are reported to have some type of relationship with their trafficker before exploitation or feel threatened to identify as a victim of crime, this bill would also eliminate the defense that the trafficked individual gave consent to their treatment.
Lastly, to provide a clear overview on human trafficking trends and identify possible solutions in Indiana, SB 155 would require law enforcement agencies to report investigations to the Indiana Attorney General.
By working to better identify cases and providing services to human trafficking victims, and Senate Republicans hope to continue making strides in keeping all Hoosiers safe.
To learn more about SB 155 and other bills filed this session, click here.
