New Law Makes Sex Trafficking a ‘Strike’ in California

The new year kicked off with Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and for emphasis, California lawmakers welcomed the passage of Senate Bill 14, which took effect Jan. 1 and makes sex trafficking of minors a serious felony — a “strike” under California’s Three Strikes law.

Under this law, repeat traffickers — those with three strikes under the Three Strikes law — would be sent to prison for life.

The Placer County District Attorney’s Office is joining forces with the Placer County Probation Department, Sheriff’s Office and the Children’s System of Care, along with others, to kick off a new information portal, a new resource call line, virtual training opportunities and a documentary in light of Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

Placer County has dedicated prosecutors in its Special Prosecutions Unit to apply the new law as they review and prosecute human trafficking cases.

California consistently ranks first in the nation in the number of human trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. But the state has actually lowered penalties in the last decade.

“The Placer County District Attorney’s Office will continue to hold human traffickers accountable, and this new law will assist in those efforts,” Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire said in a press release.

“Human trafficking is one of the most depraved crimes, often hiding in plain sight in our communities. Our prosecutors will use every tool available to us to remove traffickers from our streets.”