|
Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: March 9, 2010
Sen. Clark Jolley
Human Trafficking Measure Clears Senate
A measure to strengthen state laws aimed
at stopping human traffickers has been unanimously approved by the
State Senate. State Senator Clark
Jolley is the author of Senate Bill 2258, which would increase
penalties for stealing or destroying another person’s official
identification papers or passport.
“Human trafficking is not a problem that just occurs in big
cities far away—it has and is happening in Oklahoma. We’ve
seen news stories from our state about teens forced into prostitution,
kids that were born and raised in this country,” explained
Jolley, R-Edmond. “But with 17,000 victims of human trafficking
lured to the United States every year, we also know the odds are
high that some of those women and children end up in Oklahoma as
well.”
According to the U.S. State Department, human trafficking is now
the third-largest world-wide criminal activity, behind drugs and
arms dealing. Jolley said the international victims are brought
to the United States seeking legitimate work and a better life for
themselves and their families, only to find themselves forced into
virtual slavery; often in the sex trade including prostitution and
pornography.
“Their captors will hold or destroy their passports and other
identification to prevent them from leaving. That’s one of
the issue my legislation addresses,” Jolley said. “The
bill would also better publicize an emergency hotline number so
that victims can get the help they need to regain their freedom,
and that will help all victims, whether they are from right here
in our own state or from another country.”
SB 2258 now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
For
more information contact:
Sen. Jolley: 405-521-5622
|
