Federal agencies estimate that more than 2.5 million victims of human trafficking are more than the United States. Victims of sex trafficking are lured by false promises of financial or emotional security. Instead, victims of sex trafficking are forced or forced into commercial sexual activities, domestic servitude, or other types of forced labor. According to Section 787.06 of the Florida Act, any person who knowingly or recklessly neglects the facts is dealing or attempting to engage in human trafficking, or obtains a financial benefit by obtaining something valuable by participating in a business that has exposed a person to human trafficking, commits the crime of trafficking in human beings. For each case of trafficking in human beings involving a person under this Subsection, a separate crime shall be committed and a separate penalty shall be permitted. Human trafficking is real. That is a problem. And those involved in the “modern slavery” trade should, in my opinion, be prosecuted. However, as with all crimes, the accused is entitled to the presumption of innocence and a fair trial. Overzealous prosecutors and law enforcement agencies should exercise caution when characterizing individuals as victims of human trafficking.

Not everyone in the sex trade is “victims” from the point of view of criminal defence. Cases must be investigated and the rights of the accused must be protected, because it is the law, the penalties are severe and false convictions are very possible. The Act classifies human trafficking offences according to whether the victim is a child under the age of 18, an adult considered to be a child under the age of 18, or an adult. For trafficking offences against adult victims, the law requires the element of “coercion”. Most people think of human trafficking under the guise of prostitution and pimping. Sex trafficking is most highlighted in the news. However, trafficking in human beings is trafficking in persons for sexual purposes, forced labour, exploitation, etc. The definition is quite broad and the age of the victim is irrelevant. The Department of Homeland Security and Florida lawmakers call human trafficking modern slavery.

Pursuant to Section 787.06(2)(d), Fla. Stat., the State of Florida defines “trafficking in persons” as transportation, recruiting, recruiting, harbouring, making available, entering, entertaining, or obtaining another person for the purpose of exploitation. A conviction under Section 787.06(3)(f)(1) of the Laws of Florida for trafficking in persons through commercial sexual activity of a child by transportation or transfer to Florida is a first-degree offense punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of life imprisonment. Florida law also provides that victims of human trafficking expunge all criminal records for crimes committed while the person was a victim of human trafficking. Criminal charges of human trafficking are extremely serious under Florida law. Contact an attorney at Sammis Law Firm to discuss any charges related to recruiting a prostitute or any form of human trafficking in Tampa, Hillsborough County, or surrounding areas of Florida. According to Florida Statutes Section 787.06(3)(g), trafficking in persons through commercial sexual activity involving a child without it being established that the child was transported from outside the State of Florida is a crime of life. These signs are very varied and can indicate many problems, not just human trafficking. Law enforcement agencies are becoming increasingly aware of the intricacies of human trafficking and are trying to educate the public so that society becomes aware of the problem. As a result, prosecutions for these cases are becoming increasingly common, not only in Florida, but nationwide. Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking – The term “human trafficking” includes the exploitation and commercial exchange of people for the purposes of debt bondage, serfdom, involuntary labor, prostitution and pornography. The FCAHT website explains why the state of Florida has been identified as a hub for human trafficking.

As a non-profit organization founded in 2004, the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking is an international and national anti-trafficking agency. USA Today reported that lawmakers write laws that can lead to false convictions. False convictions are not the only problem. Illegal law enforcement can ruin lives. The ignorant minor participating in a trafficking network can be prosecuted with the ringleaders, even if his involvement is minor. The mere fact that a person is prosecuted for trafficking in human beings represents a strong negative stigma for the person, whether convicted or not. It is important to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney who has a thorough understanding of laws and defenses related to human trafficking. Contact Powers Sellers & Finkelstein, PLC today for a free case evaluation. Federal law provides for civil and criminal penalties for trafficking in human beings. For example, 22 U.S.C.

§ 7102(9) Trafficking in Persons as follows: According to the analysis of the law prepared by the professional staff of the Budget Committee for 2020 CS/SB 154, Florida is the third in the country for reported cases of human trafficking. Some of the most serious forms of exploitation under Florida`s Human Trafficking Act include: Our attorneys represent clients charged with various prostitution charges, including offering to engage in prostitution, soliciting prostitution, maintaining one place of prostitution, forcing another for commercial sexual act through human trafficking, receive support from the avails of prostitution, and transportation for the purpose of prostitution. For children under the age of 18 who are induced to commit a commercial sexual act, the law classifies them as victims of human trafficking, whether through forced fraud or coercion. Across the United States, criminal organizations are accused of luring children from local schools for commercial sexual exploitation or human trafficking. The term “serious forms of trafficking in persons” has been defined as follows: According to the Federal Victims of Human Trafficking and Protection from Violence Act of 2000, Public Law 106-386, pp. 103, 22 U.S.C. s. 7102, the term “sex trafficking” is defined as “recruitment, harbouring, transportation, the provision or recruitment of a person for the purpose of a commercial act”. The law provides for severe penalties for human trafficking crimes.

Victims of human trafficking may be trafficked within U.S. borders or smuggled across international borders. Many victims of human trafficking are misled with false promises of financial security, but then forced into forced labour, sex work or domestic servitude. To be eligible for deportation under subsection 943.0583(3) of the Extermination of Victims of Human Trafficking Act, the crime must have been committed as part of the trafficking system of which the person was a victim or at the direction of a program operator. Victims of human trafficking include people of all ages, including young children, youth and adults. Victims include both U.S. citizens and trafficked persons within U.S. borders. In 2018, for example, 767 cases of human trafficking were reported in Florida.