Crime Scene

Gov. Eliot Spitzer has signed into law tougher penalties against people involved in trafficking human beings for the sex trade and prostitution or indentured servitude.

The legislation, written with assistance from Rockland District Attorney Michael Bongiorno as president of the state District Attorney’s Association, creates a felony for those who engage in sex trafficking and labor trafficking. The law also removes any ambiguity in existing law to assure that prosecutors can bring felony charges against those who run “Prostitution Tourismâ€? businesses.

And the law provides victims with emergency temporary housing, access to healthcare, drug addiction treatment, translation services, and job training. Law enforcement agencies also can coordinate with the federal government to assist victims in obtaining special visas that allow them to remain in the United States and eventually become eligible for refugee assistance.

Advocates believe the law help women caught in the cycle servitude. In many cases, the women are smuggled into the United States or enter with false credentials and pay off their debt through the sex trade or working as housekeepers and servents.

Law enforcement officials hope the social services offered the women will convince them to cooperate in investigation into the traffickers. Many times, the women fear cooperating, officials say.