Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) has introduced legislation to make Illinois communities safer by requiring criminals convicted of forcing victims into commercial sex work to register as sex offenders once they are released back into the public.
Senate Bill 267 amends the Sex Offender Registration Act to add persons convicted of violations or attempted violations of involuntary servitude or trafficking minors or adults for commercial sexual activity to ensure that predators who are forcing victims into the sex trade and profiting from their abuse are required to register as sex offenders.
Adding these convicted offenders to the Illinois Sex Offender Registry, will allow families to be clear on who is in their community and will help law enforcement investigate crimes more quickly. Currently, those convicted of involuntary servitude, or forcing a victim into commercial sex work against their will, are not required to register as a sex offender even if they are convicted of trafficking minors. Curran says this oversight leaves communities at risk.
“Allowing these predators to walk free without registering once their sentence is served, does not provide appropriate justice for victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, and fails to inform a community of their presence,” said Curran. “This legislation ensures that the punishment fits the crime, and will help keep families aware of their surroundings and help law enforcement better investigate future crimes.”
Once these human traffickers are added to the Illinois Sex Offender Registry, they will be required to register in person annually for ten years, and any changes in an offender’s registration must be made within three days with the law enforcement agency who has jurisdiction.
“Someone who is convicted of involuntary servitude or trafficking in persons is profiting from forcing victims into the sex trade,” said DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin, whose office contacted Senator Curran regarding the need for this legislation. “They are dangerous not only to their victims but to society as a whole and forcing these predators to register as sex offenders will help law enforcement keep track of their whereabouts, inform the community of their presence and make it more difficult for them to traffic new victims.”
According to the Illinois State Police, human trafficking is one of the most under-reported and under-identified crimes, and one for which most victims generally do not reach out for help. Because so many victims go without justice, requiring traffickers to register will help bring more accountability for these heinous crimes.
SB 0267 has been assigned to the Senate Criminal Law Committee.
A video of Leader Curran and States Attorney Berlin discussing the legislation in more detail can be found here: https://youtu.be/4i7naGV0jlQ