The issue of human trafficking has been identified as a priority by both the Jewish Federations of North America and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.
Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal activity in the world, generating approximately $32 billion in profits every year. In Wisconsin, more than 200 victims have been identified to date.
The Wisconsin state Legislature took the first step toward addressing the growing issue of human trafficking in Wisconsin during the 2013-14 legislative session with the passage of 2013 Wisconsin Act 362, authored by Rep. Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton).
It updates the list of what constitutes trafficking as well as the definition of “commercial sex acts” and creates a process for victims to expunge any charges related to human trafficking from their records.
Several other pieces of legislation aimed at curbing human trafficking were introduced during the 2013-14 session but failed to pass before the Legislature adjourned for the year. Almost all of these bills had bipartisan support.
Many of the lawmakers who championed human trafficking legislation this past session are returning to the Legislature next session. Given the bi-partisan support of this issue, it is likely that the Legislature will continue to give significant consideration to the issue.
The following bills could be reintroduced next session:
• Senate Bill 209/Assembly Bill 192: This would require law enforcement officials who encounter juveniles suspected of being victims of sex trafficking to make a report to the appropriate child welfare agency and launch an investigation into the situation to see if the victim is in need of child protective services.
Victims of trafficking are often charged with prostitution or released into the custody of their perpetrators, as there is no current law requirement to investigate child prostitution if it does not involve a family caregiver.
• Senate Bill 552/Assembly Bill 681: This would allow a victim of human trafficking to bring a civil lawsuit against the person who trafficked them, recruited them or profited from the trafficking.
The victim would be able to collect actual damages, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and any revenue earned by the trafficker from to the victim’s sexual exploitation.
• Assembly Bill 776: This would permit a court, in lieu of convicting a child for prostitution, to enter into a consent decree or a deferred prosecution agreement, placing the child under supervision.
It would also require the court to make a child abuse report if the judge believes the child is a victim of human trafficking.
• Assembly Bill 811: This would require anyone who commits a sexual crime against a child or a crime related to prostitution or trafficking to pay a $500 surcharge to the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board.
The funds collected would be used to provide grants to organizations that offer services to child victims of sexual crimes.
Michael Blumenfeld is executive director of the Wisconsin Jewish Conference, an umbrella organization based in Madison that brings several Jewish communities throughout Wisconsin together to pursue common public policy goals. Mark Laufman is WJC chair. (See Hineni article in this issue.)
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