Currently, New York State’s anti-trafficking law requires that prosecutors prove the child victim was coerced. This means that prosecutors cannot build successful cases against traffickers of children unless the child victim is willing and able to credibly testify against those who trafficked and abused them.  

 

Bill A-6823B turned law will:

1. protect the State's most vulnerable children by removing the burden from them of having to provide painful and humiliating details about their ordeal

2. make child sex trafficking a violent B felony when an individual intentionally advances or profits from prostitution of a child less than 18 years old
 

The federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act does not require prosecutors to prove coercion in sex trafficking cases where the victims are minors. 48 states have followed suit. 

 

The coercion requirement places too high a burden on children and prosecutors, and that children should not be re-victimized in court. 

 

New York is 1 of only 2 states that still requires prosecutors to prove coercion even when the victim was a child.