Thread: Bill targets traffickers who prostitute children

Bill targets traffickers who prostitute children

By BRENDAN RILEY, The Associated Press
3:26 p.m. April 1, 2009

CARSON CITY, Nev. — Nevada legislators were urged Wednesday to impose civil penalties of up to $1 million, in addition to any criminal charges, on sex traffickers who lure or force children into prostitution.

Assemblyman John Hambrick, R-Las Vegas, said his AB380 would allow for a $100,000 penalty if offenders traffic in prostitutes 14 to 17 years old, a $500,000 penalty if the child is less than 14, and a $1 million fine if the offender is part of a conspiracy to prostitute children.

Hambrick told the Assembly Judiciary Committee that his bill, whose co-sponsors include Judiciary Chairman Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, also would enable authorities to freeze and eventually seize assets of those involved in child prostitution.

"We're talking about potentially millions of dollars in this industry, and I want to have the courts to have the capability to freeze these assets," Hambrick said.

Hambrick said the big fines would be used to help the victimized children, and to help cover costs of prosecuting traffickers who have the money to hire high-powered lawyers.

For those involved in prostitution rings, "going to jail is a cost of doing business," Hambrick said. "When you start going after their pocketbooks, they will be reacting a little differently."

The civil fines are "staggering" but are warranted given the "horrendous" amount of organized child prostitution in southern Nevada, he added.

Also backing the bill was Dr. Lois Lee, head of Los Angeles-based Children of the Night which helps children victimized by prostitution, who said Nevada lacks similar programs.

Joe Murrin of Las Vegas told lawmakers that Lee's organization helped his daughter get away from prostitution that began when she was a minor, adding, "Laws need to be stiffened. These are not victimless crimes."

Las Vegas Metro Police Sgt. Vic Vigna said Las Vegas has been identified by the FBI as one of 14 cities around the country with high rates of child prostitution. He said Metro vice officers handled 150 cases of child prostitution last year and already have more than 50 so far this year.

Vigna termed the bill "an obvious and positive step in the right direction," adding, "And although the civil penalties seem staggering, the amount of money that these panderers are generating is even more staggering." He noted one trafficker arrested by Metro officers had $400,000 in cash.

Also backing the bill was Susan Roske, a chief deputy Clark County public defender who works with youths arrested for prostitution and described them as victims "forced into modern-day slavery" by abusive pimps.

"It's easy to label these children as whores or prostitutes," Roske said, adding, "But these children are not responsible for their circumstances and I urge you to see them as they truly are, abused and traumatized children."

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... ndex=76045

I cannot imagine any logical argument to be made by anyone opposing this bill. I do think the fines proposed are too low compared to what these child traffickers are earning.