Virginia has improved what had been a dismal record on curbing human trafficking, according to a national anti-trafficking organization.
Polaris Project, which runs the national human trafficking resource center, had previously rated Virginia in its lowest tier. But after the state passed three anti-trafficking bills last year, Virginia is now ranked in its second-highest tier and is no longer singled out as “lagging behind” in its human-trafficking laws.
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“Great bills went through,” said James Dold, policy counsel for Polaris Project.
Gov. Bob McDonnell signed the three bills in May. One makes the abduction of any person for prostitution or of a minor for manufacturing child pornography a Class 2 felony that is punishable by 20 years to life in prison. Another requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to advise law enforcement about prosecuting trafficking offenses. The third mandates that the Department of Social Services develop a plan to help trafficking victims.
Officials said those measures are already being implemented. The state held its first training seminar on recognizing human trafficking and prosecuting it last week.
“The biggest problem is spotting it,” Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said. He said the session taught prosecutors, police officers and social workers about signs of trafficking and Virginia laws.
It’s important for those groups to receive training together, said Lt. Chris Marsh, assistant commander of Fairfax County police’s organized crime and narcotics division.
“It helps us all get on the same sheet of music, the same game plan,” he said. Marsh said it’s helpful that other agencies know his unit is starting human-trafficking investigations so “they won’t be surprised if something is turned up and we have to call victim services.”
Dold said he was encouraged that Virginia’s newly passed laws are “already beginning to bear fruit.”
Polaris Project rates states by tracking 10 categories of laws considered important to curbing trafficking. Maryland and the District are also both rated in the second-highest group — meaning that, like Virginia, they each have five or six of those laws in place.
Officials across the region agreed that more training is key to preventing and pursuing trafficking cases.
U.S. Attorney for Maryland Rod Rosenstein said his office and others in the state have focused on working with victims.
“We’re training them to treat juvenile prostitutes as victims and not as criminals,” he said. “That influences your whole approach to the case.”
