Criminal Justice (Human Trafficking)

signed · New York · Senate Dec 19, 2025

S 3967: Relates to individuals engaged in prostitution who are victims of or witnesses to a crime

Provides immunity from prosecution for certain individuals engaged in prostitution who are victims of or witnesses to a crime and who report such crime or assist in the investigation or prosecution.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeGrants immunity to prostitution victims/witnesses to report crimes, protecting civil rights and encouraging victim cooperation in investigations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 202: Relates to sex trafficking

This bill increases penalties for sex trafficking offenses under New York law. It amends two sections of the penal code to upgrade sex trafficking (from class B to class A-II felony) and sex trafficking of a child (from class B to class A-II felony). These changes make the punishments more severe for individuals convicted of these crimes. The law takes effect on November 1st following its enactment. The bill directly affects people convicted of sex trafficking or trafficking children in New York State.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for sex trafficking (upgrading to class A-II felony), directly matching 'increases mandatory sentences' OPPOSE indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · New York · Senate Mar 27, 2025

S 6978: Removes statute of limitations for certain civil actions related to child sexual assault offenses

This bill removes time limits for civil lawsuits related to childhood sexual abuse. It allows victims to file lawsuits at any time after the abuse occurred, regardless of when it happened, as long as they were under 18 at the time. The law covers civil claims for physical, psychological, or other injuries from offenses including rape, incest, sex trafficking, and child sexual performances as defined in New York's penal law. It specifically applies to cases where the abuse occurred before the victim turned 18, and does not require a prior criminal conviction to file a civil claim.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves statute of limitations for child sexual abuse civil cases, enabling victims to seek justice regardless of time elapsed, aligns with victim rights protection in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6358: Enacts the "child sex crime victims protection act"

Enacts the "child sex crime victims protection act"; establishes alternative sentencing procedures for victims of child sex crimes who commit crimes against their abusers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes alternative sentencing for child sex crime victims who commit crimes against abusers, protecting victims' rights and reducing recidivism through trauma-informed sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Sentencing Victims' Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate May 15, 2026

S 6865: Relates to the creation of a "ebony alert system" for missing Black youth

Provides for the creation of an ebony alert system to be activated on behalf of Black youth who are reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances, at risk, developmentally disabled, or cognitively impaired, or who have been abducted.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates targeted alert system for missing Black youth to address racial disparities in law enforcement response, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6946: Makes sex trafficking a violent felony

This bill reclassifies sex trafficking (both adult and child) as a violent felony under New York law. It directly affects individuals convicted of these crimes by subjecting them to harsher penalties typically reserved for violent offenses. The key mechanism adds "sex trafficking" and "sex trafficking of a child" to the list of Class B violent felonies in the penal code, alongside crimes like murder, rape, and kidnapping. This change will impact sentencing outcomes for these offenses, though it does not alter the underlying criminal conduct.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeReclassifies sex trafficking as violent felony, imposing harsher penalties - increases sentencing severity, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' oppose indicator.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Sentencing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6507: Defines the crime of sex trafficking of a child, person who is mentally disabled, or person who is mentally incapacitated

This bill defines sex trafficking involving children (under 18), mentally disabled individuals, or mentally incapacitated people as a class B felony. It makes it illegal for anyone 21+ to intentionally profit from or advance another person’s prostitution in these cases, removing the defense that the perpetrator didn’t know the victim’s age or disability status. Key terms like "advances prostitution" (facilitating the act) and "profits from prostitution" (receiving money from the activity) are clearly defined in the law. The bill directly affects victims in these vulnerable groups and those who exploit them, strengthening penalties for traffickers. It does not change existing definitions of "mentally disabled" or "mentally incapacitated," which refer to established legal standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStrengthens penalties for sex trafficking of vulnerable groups, removes defenses, advancing victim protection and accountability in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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failed · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6622: Designates certain crimes relating to prostitution as qualifying offenses with regard to bail eligibility

Designates promoting prostitution in the fourth degree and patronizing a person for prostitution in the third degree, where such person is less than 17 years of age, as qualifying offenses with regard to bail eligibility.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeDenies bail eligibility for prostitution crimes involving minors, reducing defendant rights under criminal justice process.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6462: Provides for the operation of a youth services unit within the port authority police department

S 6462 creates a youth services unit within the Port Authority Police Department to assist young people at risk of exploitation, particularly runaways who may face human or sex trafficking. The unit will operate at Port Authority bus terminals, airports, Trans-Hudson stations, and the World Trade Center, focusing on intercepting at-risk youth, collaborating with social workers and undercover officers, identifying vulnerabilities early, stopping perpetrators, and connecting youth with family or support services. It authorizes the Port Authority to establish necessary rules for implementing this unit. The bill requires New Jersey to enact identical legislation first for it to take effect, or it becomes effective immediately if New Jersey has already passed similar law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates youth services unit to prevent exploitation/trafficking by intercepting at-risk youth and connecting them with support services, aligning with criminal justice reform through prevention and rehabilitation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7282: Ends involuntary servitude in correctional facilities in New York state

This bill, S 7282 ("No Slavery in New York Act"), prohibits involuntary servitude and forced labor for all incarcerated individuals in New York State correctional facilities, including those convicted of crimes. It amends the Civil Rights Law to explicitly ban slavery, involuntary servitude, and forced labor in the state, and adds a new provision to the Correction Law banning any labor compelled by force, adverse actions, or threats. The law takes effect immediately and directly affects all people incarcerated in state and local correctional facilities across New York.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans forced labor in NY prisons, aligning with criminal justice reform by protecting incarcerated individuals' civil rights and explicitly prohibiting involuntary servitude.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBans forced labor for incarcerated individuals, protecting against exploitation in correctional workplaces, directly aligns with labor rights protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Human Trafficking

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