CEASE recently released its policy brief, Child Sex Trafficking and Enhancing Georgia Responses, providing an overview of how common misunderstandings about the realities of child sex trafficking prevent the identification of victims, resulting in survivors being treated more like adult criminals than child victims. Despite Georgia’s commitment to the protection of survivors of child sex trafficking, victims continue to be arrested and prosecuted for acts committed while under the control of traffickers. Legislation proposed to increase penalties for violations of criminal gang activities and other offenses will inadvertently exacerbate the criminalization of victims, diverting them from protection, healing, and recovery. Read CEASE’s brief here.
***As part of the University of Georgia, the Wilbanks CEASE Clinic does not endorse or oppose any specific legislation, and are not endorsing or opposing any legislation that may be related to the information provided in its policy brief. The CEASE Clinic does not endorse any suggested legislation or statutory language contained in the brief. The CEASE Clinic does not engage in any lobbying, and is not engaged in any lobbying related to any legislation, including any legislation related to the information provided in this brief. The information provided is the result of legal and social science research and an analysis of relevant laws and state trends related to the decriminalization of child victims of trafficking. The information provided in the brief does not constitute any beliefs, opinions, or endorsements by the CEASE Clinic, the University of Georgia, or the faculty and students involved in drafting this Brief.