Laws To End Human Trafficking Earn Georgia An 'A' Grade

EDITOR'S NOTE: As Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta approached, Patch devoted exclusive coverage to the issue of human trafficking as it related to one of the world's biggest sporting events. Patch remains committed to covering this international plague with our continuing focus on local efforts to combat the crime.

GEORGIA — Recently, Shared Hope International awarded Georgia an "A" on the strength of its laws to combat sex trafficking — an improvement from the "B" received in 2018 and the "C" from the first report card in 2011.

"I am proud of the work Georgia has done to earn this ranking," said First Lady Marty Kemp. "While this recognition is a major accomplishment for our state, our work is not finished. We will continue the fight to dismantle this criminal enterprise and restore the lives of the countless victims. We will not stop until the last victim is rescued - because one person trapped in the shadows is one too many."

This ranking is a direct result of the hard work of Marty Kemp, the GRACE Commission, Attorney General Chris Carr, the General Assembly, law enforcement, and non-profit organizations, Gov. Brian Kemp said.

"We have been working hard over the past year to raise awareness, strengthen our laws, heal victims, and take these criminals off our streets, and we look forward to continuing the fight to end this evil industry," he said.

Since 2011, Shared Hope International has graded states based on the strength of their laws related to the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

Shared Hope International is an established leader in the movement to end slavery. Their mission is to prevent the conditions that foster sex trafficking, restore and empower survivors, and bring justice to vulnerable adults, boys and girls. Their story began in 1998 when U.S. Congresswoman Linda Smith traveled into the heart of the brothel district in Mumbai, India. The brutal sexual slavery and exploitation of women and children she witnessed there inspired her to establish Shared Hope International to help bring healing to devastated lives.

Grades are based on an annual review of state laws as analyzed under the Protected Innocence Challenge Legislative Framework.

The report card addresses state laws related to the following:

• Preventing domestic minor sex trafficking through reducing demand
• Rescuing and restoring victims through improved training on identification
• Establishing protocols and facilities for victim placement
• Mandating appropriate services and shelter
• Incorporating trauma-reducing mechanisms into the justice system

Georgia scored a 96 out of 100 with the following scores in each category:

• Criminalization of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: 10/10
• Criminal Provisions for Demand: 24.5/25
• Criminal Provisions for Traffickers: 15/15
• Criminal Provisions for Facilitators: 7.5/10
• Protective Provisions for the Child Victims: 24.5/27.5
• Criminal Justice Tools for Investigation and Prosecution: 14.5/15

“We must continue to do all we can to stop the spread of this crime in our state and nation, and our new Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit will stand shoulder to shoulder with the First Lady’s GRACE Commission, law enforcement officials and our many private sector and non-profit partners to carry out that mission,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “We commend all who, over the years, have helped Georgia to achieve this top score.”

Not For Sale: Exclusive Coverage From Patch

• Not For Sale: Kemp Signs New Sex Trafficking Laws
• More Than 160 Arrested In Super Bowl Human Trafficking Operation
• Not For Sale: 100+ Minors Rescued In Child Sex Trafficking Op
• Not For Sale: 4 Metro Hotels Named In Sex Trafficking Lawsuit

In April, three new bipartisan bills designed to fight sex trafficking in Georgia were signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp. The bills increase penalties for pimping and pandering; includes sex crimes into the definition of criminal gang activity; and authorizes the state officials to care for and supervise children who have been victims of human trafficking.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, human trafficking is "modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act." Human trafficking is not the same as human smuggling, which involves illegal transportation of a person across a border.

Victims of human trafficking are of all genders, ages, races, countries, socioeconomic statuses, and so on. While human trafficking can happen to anyone, people who are already in vulnerable situations – such as people experiencing homelessness – may be more likely to be targeted.

The different kinds of human trafficking include sex trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude. Sex trafficking victims may be forced, threatened, or manipulated by promises of love or affection to engage in sex acts for money. Any person under the age of 18 involved in a commercial sex act is considered a victim of human trafficking.