Many laws around the world make it a crime for anyone to deprive another person of their freedom or liberty. This includes labor and sex trafficking, which is also known as sexual exploitation or sexual abuse.
These crimes can result in hefty fines and lengthy prison sentences. In addition, a conviction may lead to the forfeiture of property and assets obtained during the course of the trafficking.
Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking is an increasingly prevalent crime that targets women and girls of color, LGBTQ+ youth, and immigrants. It also disproportionately affects Indigenous populations and those who live in abject poverty, which are typically economically and politically marginalized.
Traffickers often use force, fraud, or coercion to recruit, entrap, and control victims. They can make false promises of employment, wages, love, marriage, and a better life.
Sexual trafficking can be punishable by a fine or prison time, depending on the severity of the offense. If the trafficking involved a child, the penalty may be up to life in prison.
Sex trafficking cases get huge attention in the media, which can put a lot of pressure on law enforcement officers and prosecutors. It is common for these investigators and prosecutors to rush the investigation and to charge anyone accused of this crime as guilty as possible.
Labor Trafficking
Traffickers recruit victims for a variety of industries, and often target people who are vulnerable or isolated. Domestic workers and farm laborers are especially at risk.
For instance, traffickers may coerce farm workers through violence as they harvest crops or manufacture goods in sweatshops. They can also force victims to work as housekeepers, cleaners and nannies.
Some labor trafficking schemes involve forced child labor. Children are more vulnerable and harder to control than adults, so traffickers tend to enlist them.
Another form of trafficking involves debt bondage, in which a victim is indebted to an employer and unable to leave until the loan is paid off. This can be a dangerous and exploitative practice that remains illegal today.
As with sex trafficking, traffickers can be prosecuted for labor trafficking under federal law. They can also be held accountable under anti-discrimination laws enforced by the EEOC. These laws are vital for ensuring that all workers, including those with precarious immigration status and those working in remote areas, have access to legal resources and support.
Asset Forfeiture
Asset forfeiture is a law enforcement tool used by the government to take property from those suspected of criminal activity. These assets can include cash, real estate, cars, and other valuables.
The United States Department of Justice uses civil asset forfeiture to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations, deprive criminals of their proceeds from crime, and restore property to victims. It is used to the fullest extent possible while ensuring that due process rights of property owners are protected.
In many cases, asset forfeiture has become a tool of choice for prosecutors. However, there are issues with this practice.
Proponents of asset forfeiture argue that it is a powerful law enforcement tool to target drug traffickers, as well as other organized criminal groups. In addition, it has helped to generate revenue for police agencies. Despite this, there are calls for reform to ensure that asset forfeiture remains a crime-fighting tool rather than an enforcement mechanism.
Life in Prison
In the case of sex trafficking, life in prison is often the human trafficking punishment. This is because of the immoral nature of these crimes.
Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery that involves exploiting victims for financial gain. This can include sex, labor, or services, and both federal and state laws prohibit human trafficking.
A South Carolina man convicted of human trafficking for the first time in his state’s history was sentenced to life in prison last week. The man, David Hayden, trafficked a 15-year-old runaway who was “picked up” by him after running away from home, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.
Sex trafficking has a different set of rules than other types of human trafficking, such as labor trafficking and drug trafficking. Because of this, it is important to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney if you are accused of any type of human trafficking crime. They can help you fight for the justice that you deserve.