Recognizing that trafficking of individuals for the commercial sex trade as a sex offense, legislation filed at the request of Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin would make anyone convicted of sex trafficking trafficking be subject to the State's sex offender registration and community notification requirements. The legislation (H7318), sponsored by Representative Robert E. Craven, Sr. (D- Dist. 32, North Kingstown) and Senator Maryellen Goodwin ((D-Dist. 1, Providence), is scheduled for a hearing before the House Committee on Judiciary on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.
Human trafficking is the world's fastest growing criminal enterprise, valued to be an estimated $32 billion-a-year global industry. After drug trafficking, human trafficking is the world's second most profitable criminal enterprise, a status it shares with illegal arms trafficking. Sex trafficking can and does take place in every community, no matter the cultural make up, the affluence, or the location of a community. No community is immune from being affected by the exploitation of human beings for commercial sexual activity.
Over the past two years in Rhode Island, at least 30 individuals have been charged with sex trafficking crimes by prosecutors from the United States Attorney's Office and the Attorney General's Office.
"Unfortunately, incidents of human trafficking of both minor and adult victims have been increasing at alarming rates in Rhode Island and nationally. Forcing a minor into commercial sexual activity or forcing an adult into commercial sexual activity by force, coercion or intimidation, I believe, is one of the most inhumane sexual offenses that can be committed. They are sexual predators and should be subject to same rigorous classification and community notification standards as those convicted of other sex offense," said Attorney General Kilmartin.
"I fully support this legislation that makes sex traffickers part of the public sex offender registry. People who profit off of the sexual exploitation and enslavement of others are indeed sexual predators and they need to be identified as such and their surrounding communities deserve to know who and what they are – predators," said Rep. Robert E. Craven(D- Dist. 32, North Kingstown).
"Sex trafficking is among the most heinous of sex crimes, destroying the lives of victims and their families. Often those convicted of it have victimized multiple people. Sex trafficking is a serious offense that should be included among the crimes that require registration to help protect the community from perpetrators who have already shown a propensity for seeking profit from others' pain," said Sen. Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence).