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A state lawmaker says he’d like to see legislation this summer to implement recommendations from the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission.
The commission released several recommendations earlier this year and Representative Kurt Heise, R-Plymouth, says one of the proposals he’d especially like to see legislation on would allow victims of forced sex and labor to have violations and convictions removed from their criminal records.
He says often times victims of human trafficking are charged with prostitution or other crimes, making it difficult for them to get a job or educational opportunities.
Heise says it’s important to not treat the victims of these crimes as criminals.
Other recommendations would allow testimony from human trafficking experts in court and keeping perpetrators of sex and labor slavery in prison with longer sentences.
