House Bill 377 - Human Trafficking Prevention Act
Ohio has a problem with human trafficking. We have the fourth highest number of reported cases of human trafficking in the nation. While Toledo is the fourth worst city in the nation for human trafficking. Right now, there are up to 1,800 people that are being held captive as victims of human trafficking. My recently introduced legislation, the Human Trafficking Prevention Act, hopes to put an end to human trafficking by putting traffickers behind bars for life.
Currently, Ohio law only allows for a prison term between 10 to 15 years for a person who has been convicted of human trafficking. My legislation will expand penalties that currently apply in circumstances where the victims are 13 years of age or younger to anyone under the age of 18. If the victim is an adult, the legislation will increase the penalties to a minimum term of 15 years and a maximum term of life imprisonment. If the victim is a minor, the prison term would be increased to a minimum term of 25 years and a maximum term of life imprisonment.
We have a moral duty to rescue these victims and ensure that traffickers and abductors face an equitable sentence that reflects the trauma they have caused to the victims. With this legislation we can assure the victims of human trafficking receive justice for their pain.
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