| Proposed Legislation Should Protect Human Trafficking Victims | |||||
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Nearly 25 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking, making it the fastest-growing and second-largest criminal industry, according to the U.S. State Department. In Indiana, there were 157 human trafficking cases reported in 2019, which is a 19% increase from 2018, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
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Human trafficking is evil, and in the 2022 legislative session I will continue my fight against this crime. I plan to reintroduce legislation, which passed the House in 2021, to help protect young human trafficking victims by allowing them to record a video statement instead of being physically present in a courtroom with their attacker. Additionally, the legislation would increase sentencing for perpetrators whose victims are under the age of 18. I recently met with Linda Reich, wife of Indianapolis Colts Coach Frank Reich, (pictured, left) prior to her testimony in support of the legislation at a committee meeting on Tuesday. Linda and Frank Reich are founders of the Indianapolis-based nonprofit kNot Today, which raises awareness about the crime and helps restore the lives of trafficking survivors. We can do more to protect victims of human trafficking who have already been through so much. It is my hope this legislation would deliver a clear message to all who traffic Hoosier youth and adults in Indiana that they will be held accountable for their heinous actions. |
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A criminal defendant has the right “to be confronted with the witnesses against him†under the Sixth Amendment. Typically this means that the State must present all evidence, including testimony of witnesses, it is using to prove guilt in open court, and to give the defendant the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses and challenge the evidence.
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