Over the past decade, there has been heightened awareness and serious concern over the fastest growing illegal industry in the United States: human trafficking.  As awareness has grown, so has the need for more comprehensive legislation that can address barriers to justice and recovery.  The Wisconsin State Assembly passed AB620 which strengthens legal protections for victims of trafficking and increases the capacity of the state and legal system to prosecute perpetrators.  The companion bill in the Senate, SB492, is available to be scheduled for a vote.

There are several key changes in the proposed legislation to current statutes:

•    Removes non-consent from the definition of human trafficking
•    Creates a process by which a victim of human trafficking can have a prostitution conviction expunged or vacated
•    Allows for the inclusion of evidence of similar acts by the accused in court
•    Limits the ability to prosecute a minor for prostitution
•    Provides greater confidentiality rights for victims
•    Provides a unified process to incorporate the forfeiture of property into a human trafficking case

In 2008 the Office of Justice Assistance released “Hidden in Plain Sight: A Baseline Survey of Human Trafficking in Wisconsin”.  The report shared the results of a statewide survey of sexual assault and domestic violence service providers and law enforcement agencies.  Respondents reported more than 200 cases of trafficking in more than half of Wisconsin counties.  The number of people being trafficked in Wisconsin is likely higher than this, as estimates of human trafficking are generally conservative. Only 40% of service providers and 7% of law enforcement surveyed had received some type of training on human trafficking.  Lack of training and awareness of the warning signs of trafficking often prevent victims from being identified.  The survey found that the number of potential cases increased 350% when respondents were given detailed definitions of trafficking and then asked to identify cases that exhibit warning signs of human trafficking.

Though this bill is a great step forward in combating human trafficking, there is a dire need for more services for victims and more training for workers and agencies that come into contact with victims.                                by Emily Bergman