http://www.polarisproject.org/take-action/advocate/550-in-legislation-to-strengthen-human-trafficking-laws-

The 2012 Super Bowl will be hosted in Indianapolis on February 5, 2012, just weeks away. Indiana Attorney General, Greg Zoller, says, “There are enormous economic benefits of hosting large sporting events such as the Super Bowl, but the disturbing reality is that such gatherings in other states have drawn criminal rings that traffic young women and children into the commercial sex trade.” Help us protect these women and girls!

The State Senate has passed an anti-sex trafficking bill SB 4, and it is now moving on to the Indiana House of Representatives for a vote. However, in order for this bill to reach Governor Mitch Daniel’s desk and be signed into law, it is crucial to keep the momentum going.

The bill makes it easier to prosecute a trafficker who intentionally “recruits, harbors, or transports” someone when forcing them into participating in sexual conduct. In addition, when children under sixteen have been caught in commercial sex, the law will now accurately recognize them as sex trafficking victims, regardless of force, fraud or coercion. There is an immediate urgency that the Indiana House of Representativies pass this bill so that Governor Daniels can sign it into law.

Human Trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world. Traffickers reap billions in profits by using force, fraud or coercion to rob victims of their freedom. It is estimated that tens of thousands of U.S. citizens are trafficked within the United States, including more than 100,000 children in commercial sex. Indiana is not exempt from the brutality of human trafficking, but we can do something about it!

http://www.in.gov/portal/news_events/73810.htm

Human trafficking

Lawmakers are working to toughen and close loopholes in Indiana's human trafficking law. SB 4 provides that recruiting, harboring, or transporting another person to participate in sexual conduct by force, threat of force, or fraud constitutes human trafficking. Among other provisions, the measure provides that a person who recruits, harbors, or transports a child less than 16 years of age with the intent of engaging the child in forced labor, involuntary servitude, prostitution, or sexual conduct commits promotion of human trafficking of a minor, a Class B felony punishable by six to 20 years in prison. The bill has already been approved by the Senate by a unanimous vote and speedy action is expected in the House to ensure passage before this year's Super Bowl in Indianapolis. According to committee testimony, human trafficking is estimated to be a $32 billion industry worldwide, affecting nearly 12.3 million adults and children, making it the second largest crime business in the world. Unfortunately, human traffickers are expected to be among the 100,000 people due to gather in Indianapolis for this year's Super Bowl as previous host cities have experienced a spike in this type of criminal activity in the days surrounding this event.