Gov, others embrace new laws arming prosecutors to stop human traffickers.
By Lynn Brezosky
lbrezosky@express-news.net
Updated 06:55 a.m., Thursday, May 26, 2011
Repeat convictions for trafficking humans for sex or forced labor in Texas will mean life in prison under legislation ceremoniously signed into law Wednesday.
Gov. Rick Perry, flanked by Attorney General Greg Abbott and bill sponsors Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, and Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, at the state Capitol touted the two measures for giving “a voice to the voiceless” in what he called modern-day slavery.
“Hopefully, when human traffickers understand their own freedom and profits are on the line, perhaps for the rest of their lives, they will think twice about trying to engage in these criminal activities,” Perry said.
Senate Bill 24, which the governor officially signed April 21, creates a new offense for compelling prostitution for adult and child victims, toughens conditions for parole and bond, and defines prosecutable forms of human trafficking in both forced sexual acts and forced labor. Trafficking in children becomes a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years to life in prison plus a fine of up to $10,000.
Sex traffickers will be listed in the Texas Sex Offender Registry, and judges will have discretion to order human traffickers to serve consecutive sentences.
Van de Putte said the bill aims to treat human trafficking as among the “most vile of crimes.”
“What could be more vile than selling another person, and particularly a child, for labor or for sex?” she said.
The measure also strengthens protections for victims, many of whom are runaways from other states or may be reluctant to speak out against their captors.
House Bill 3000, by Thompson, creates the new first-degree felony of Continuous Trafficking of Persons, which has no statute of limitations and on second conviction carries a punishment of life without parole.
The bills implement recommendations of the Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force, created during the last legislative session and chaired by Abbott.
Thompson said there are more than 17,000 human trafficking victims in Texas each year.
“This is a strike for the little dogs, the little victims who are out there and get swept into this sea of slavery,” she said.
Robert Sanborn, president of Houston-based Children at Risk, said the laws give local prosecutors the tools they need to go after traffickers who set up shop in their communities.
“This makes it easier for county attorneys, district attorneys on the local level to join in that fight,” he said. “We've basically given them a lot of tools as well.”
Staff Writer Peggy Fikac in Austin contributed to this report.
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