Congratulations to Senator Stewart Greenleaf, member of the CSE Institute’s Board of Advisors, along with Senators Leach, Dinniman, Teplitz, Fontana, Pileggi, Tartaglione, Costa, Rafferty, Schwank, Yudichak and Aument, for introducing a Safe Harbor Bill to amend Pennsylvania’s criminal code to decriminalize child sex trafficking victims. The bill’s abstract reads as follows:
“An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in human trafficking, further providing for definitions; repealing provisions relating to appropriate implementation for minor victims of human trafficking; providing for special relief to restore victim’s dignity and autonomy; adding provisions relating to safe harbor for sexually exploited children by imposing duties on law enforcement officers and the Department of Human Services and establishing the Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund; in public indecency, further providing for the offense of prostitution and related offenses; and, in juvenile matters, further providing for definitions.”
Many states throughout the U.S. have already adopted Safe Harbor laws. We look forward to Pennsylvania joining the growing movement to decriminalize sex trafficking victims and to provide the support and resources victims deserve.