The Virginia General Assembly has aimed its focus on human trafficking, or slave labor that frequently involves the sex trade. Both adults and children become victims to human trafficking every year. State Senator Adam Ebbin, D-Arlington, said, “We’ve had in Northern Virginia, the proliferation of trafficking victims via MS-13, one of the most notorious gangs in the Commonwealth and in the country.”
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli of Virginia reported that the risk against those enslaving someone should be increased, specifically when there is an involvement of street gangs. Among the bills that are proposed is one authorizing to raise the crime to a felony, while another would require posters to be put up at sex oriented businesses. Strip clubs, for example, would advertise the Human Trafficking Hotline. The third bill would provide training on how to spot potential victims and human trafficking to the Department of Social Services and school systems.
