Human traffickers in Michigan could face harsher punishment скачать в хорошем качестве

Human traffickers in Michigan could face harsher punishment

Human traffickers in Michigan could soon face stiffer penalties as state senators voted and passed a group of bills on the matter on Friday. In 2024, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 764 tips originating in Michigan. Of those, 340 cases were confirmed instances of human trafficking. Cases can range from sexual exploitation to forced labor. "It is unbelievable what's happening right beneath our very noses," Sen. John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs) said. Human trafficking has also evolved, increasingly moving online, with sextortion becoming a new danger. “You don't often see the signs of this, you know, you see when a store has been broken into, you see the broken window, you see cars abandoned on the road, you see drug deals going on," Damoose said. "This is not the proverbial white truck pulling up at a big box store and kidnapping somebody, even though that does happen.” Attorney General Dana Nessel has been pushing for action on human trafficking across multiple legislative sessions. "We need better laws to address it," Nessel, a Democrat, said. This time, she got bipartisan support, with legislation adding more tools to the arsenal. The bills would: Increase penalties for human trafficking violations involving minors to up to life in prison and a maximum $50,000 fine; Increase penalties for human trafficking violations involving kidnapping, criminal sexual conduct, or death to up to life in prison and a maximum $50,000 fine; and Increase all other human trafficking violations to up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $20,000. The package would also help underaged survivors involved in prostitution because of trafficking by raising the minimum age someone can be charged for prostitution to 18. First-time offenders could also be placed on probation and participate in a human trafficking awareness program. The penalties for prostitution would also increase, however. Survivors welcomed the bills. "I support accountability and I think the penalties are that one piece." Robin Bolz, a survivor and founder of the Battle Creek Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition, said. Still, they feel more needs to be done to aid those that have been trafficked. "If Michigan truly wants to see and save lives, then we have to invest in survivors and remove the barriers because stigma and red tape really are killing people and just as much as violence," Bolz said. State: 147 kilograms of fentanyl: DEA Detroit Field Division announces 2025 seizure totals The bills now heading to the house, and Nessel is excited to see them through. "I hope that they will take it with the same amount of seriousness and that it'll pass through there and land on the governor's desk soon," Nessel said. "We're long overdue for that." Read: https://wwmt.com/news/michigan-politi... _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: WWMT on Facebook:   / wwmtnews   WWMT on Twitter:   / wwmtnews   Subscribe to WWMT on YouTube:    / @wwmtnews   WWMT Daily News Digest:    • WWMT-TV Daily Digest   For more information, visit https://www.wwmt.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: desk@wwmt.com Call the Newsroom: 800.875.3333 WWMT is a MI based station and a CBS Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. #WWMT #NEWSCHANNEL3 #Kalamazoo #Michigan #humantraffickingawareness #Legislation #Publicsafety #michiganpolitics #Senate #penalty #RemingtonHernandez