COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio lawmakers are working on a proposal that aims to stiffen penalties for human trafficking.
House Bill 47, sponsored by Reps. Nick Santucci (R-Niles) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Township), would increase prison sentences for human trafficking, abduction and kidnapping. Abduction refers to forcibly restraining someone under circumstances that create a risk of harm or fear, while kidnapping is a more severe offense involving intent to engage in unlawful activity.
The bill, named the Human Trafficking Prevention Act, was introduced in February and passed the House unanimously in June. It awaits consideration in the Senate.
“Trafficking destroys individuals, families and communities alike,” Williams said at an April hearing. “Those who facilitate this heinous crime deserve no sympathy and will receive none if the Human Trafficking Prevention Act becomes law.”
The legislation would raise the penalty for kidnapping a victim who is younger than 13 or who has a developmental disability from a minimum sentence of 15 years to a minimum sentence of 25 years. An earlier version of the bill would have extended these enhanced penalties to crimes involving all victims under the age of 18, but that provision was ultimately removed.
Offenders charged with abduction involving involuntary servitude or a sexual motivation would also face a minimum of 25 years in prison, while the current minimum is 15 years. Additionally, the minimum sentence for human trafficking would jump from 10 years to 15 years.
Under existing law, the offense of human trafficking prohibits people from knowingly recruiting or transporting victims. The bill would lower this standard, specifying that offenders only need to have “reason to believe” a victim is being trafficked.
“In practice, human traffickers often purposefully leave their facilitators in the dark about their activities so as to protect themselves and to give the facilitators culpable deniability,” Williams testified. “This lower standard recognizes that those who facilitate human trafficking are just as culpable as the traffickers themselves and makes it easier to bring them to justice.”
Nine people testified in support of the bill at House hearings, including Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, as well as representatives from the Ohio Domestic Violence Network and Collaborative to End Human Trafficking. No one testified against the legislation.
“Too often traffickers have faced menial prison sentences for their crimes,” Yost said at an April hearing. “Law enforcement and prosecutors are forced to bring different charges, such as weapons offenses, in an attempt to keep these evildoers off the street for as long as possible.”
Santucci cited data that showed Ohio ranked sixth in the nation for the number of cases reported to the Human Trafficking Hotline in 2021. He said Ohio’s large number of truck stops, expansive highway system and proximity to the Canadian border make the state a “hot spot” for human trafficking.
“This legislation will contribute to greater safety in our communities and send a clear message to traffickers that their crimes will not be tolerated in Ohio,” he said.
HB 47 has strong bipartisan support, with 68 cosponsors consisting of both Republicans and Democrats. The bill will face additional hearings in the Senate, where lawmakers will have the chance to make changes before potentially sending it to Gov. Mike DeWine for final approval.
Hence then, the article about no sympathy ohio bill aims to stiffen penalties for human traffickers was published today ( ) and is available on NBC4 ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( 'No sympathy:' Ohio bill aims to stiffen penalties for human traffickers )
Also on site :
- Samsung Plans to Bring Google Photos to Samsung AI TV Lineup, Helping Users Relive Their Favorite Memories on the Big Screen
- Hilton assisted living facility evacuated overnight due to water leak
- Quantum Computing in Financial Services Market Set to Reach USD 6.3 Billion by 2032 as Banks Move from Experimentation to Quantum Advantage .. DataM Intelligence