House OKs Bill Hiking Penalty For Sex Trafficking — The House recently approved a measure to offer Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system better tools to hold human sex traffickers accountable to the law, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).
House Bill 663 would increase the penalties for those who traffic minors from a third-degree felony to a first-degree felony and would make it clear that the penalties apply to trafficking a minor whether or not the perpetrator knew the victim was under the age of 18. In addition, the bill also would charge a parent who sells or trades his or her child knowing the child will be forced into commercial sex as a result with a second-degree felony. The bill would define commercial sex to include any sexual activity in which anything of value is given to or received by another person where the activity is induced by force, fraud or expressed or implied coercion, regardless of the age of the victim. Trafficking charges would apply even if there was no proof of coercion.
If enacted, the bill would give victims the right to sue for damages and attorney’s fees against someone who coerced him or her into or to remain in prostitution or to collect or receive any part of the victim’s earnings from prostitution.
The measure now heads to the Senate.
Kudos. One suspects the right to take the matter to civil court — where unanimous juries and guilt beyond reasonable doubt are not necessary — might be even more of a deterrent than the increased criminal penalty. Sex traffickers, after all, are primarily motivated by money.
Maybe our lawmakers might consider letting civil courts be the main venue in fighting the drug trade, as drug dealers are also motivated primarily by money. It would require, though, making drug use legal as victims would not want to face criminal charges when filing their lawsuits.
It would not be a bad idea, either, to give others harmed by drug dealing — family of users, their neighbors, co-workers, employers, employees — standing to sue.
