Kay Ivey signs increased penalties for human trafficking into law

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Kay Ivey Signing
Photo of signing. [Photo Credit: Governor's office]

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation on Wednesday enhancing the criminal penalties for obstructing the enforcement of the human trafficking laws in Alabama.

“I was proud to be the House sponsor for a bill this last legislative session that significantly increased the penalties for human trafficking,” said Rainbow City-Republican State Rep. Mack Butler on Facebook. “This crime is on the rise in all 50 states and is a $32 billion a year industry. I’m very thankful the governor gave her quick approval and signed this bill into law.”

While many Alabamians are unaware of its ongoings, sex trafficking is actively happening not only abroad, but also in Alabama. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at least 36 human trafficking cases were reported in the Yellowhammer State in 2017. They also report more than 111 victims of human trafficking in Alabama have called its hotline for help this year.

Under the new law, a person commits the crime of human trafficking in the first degree if:

  1. He or she knowingly subjects another person to labor servitude or sexual servitude through use of coercion or deception.
  2. He or she knowingly obtains, recruits, entices, solicits, induces, threatens, isolates, harbors, holds, restrains, transports, provides, or maintains any minor for the purpose of causing a minor to engage in sexual servitude.
  3. For purposes of this section, it is not required that the defendant have knowledge of a minor victim’s age, nor is reasonable mistake of age a defense to liability under this section.
  4. A corporation, or any other legal entity other than an individual, may be prosecuted for human trafficking in the first degree for an act or omission only if an agent of the corporation or entity performs the conduct which is an element of the crime while acting within the scope of his or her office or employment and on behalf of the corporation or entity, and the commission of the crime was either authorized, requested, commanded, performed, or within the scope of the person’s employment on behalf of the corporation or entity or constituted a pattern of conduct that an agent of the corporation or entity knew or should have known was occurring.
  5. Any person who obstructs, or attempts to obstruct, or in any way interferes with or prevents the enforcement of this section shall be guilty of a Class A felony.

Human trafficking in the first degree would be a Class A felony.

Under the new law, a person commits the crime of human trafficking in the second degree if:

  1.  A person knowingly benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value, from participation in a venture or engagement for the purpose of sexual servitude or labor servitude.
  2. A person knowingly recruits, entices, solicits, induces, harbors, transports, holds, restrains, provides, maintains, subjects, or obtains by any means another person for the purpose of labor servitude or sexual servitude.
  3. A corporation, or any other legal entity other than an individual, may be prosecuted for human trafficking in the second degree for an act or omission only if an agent of the corporation or entity performs the conduct which is an element of the crime while acting within the scope of his or her office or employment and on behalf of the corporation or entity, and the commission of the crime was either authorized, requested, commanded, performed, or within the scope of the person’s employment on behalf of the corporation or entity or constituted a pattern of conduct that an agent of the corporation or entity knew or should have known was occurring.
  4. Any person who obstructs, or attempts to obstruct, or in any way interferes with or prevents the enforcement of this section shall be guilty of a Class B felony.