Governor approves legislation requiring law enforcement agencies to establish policies for interactions with survivors
East Bay Times
California Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, recently joined Gov. Gavin Newsom to celebrate the signing of AB 2020, the Human Trafficking Survivors Act. The bill, which goes into effect Jan. 1, requires law enforcement agencies to establish policies for their interactions with human trafficking survivors.
“Survivors of human trafficking need support, not systemic barriers. This bill was born from the ongoing conversations I’ve had with organizations supporting survivors of sex trafficking, law enforcement organizations and those working in the justice system,” said Bonta. “Sadly, the first time many survivors of trafficking first engage with the government, they are seen as offenders of prostitution or other crimes. Establishing proper protocols for law enforcement interactions with survivors will allow California to combat human trafficking while centering the needs of survivors and advancing trauma-informed justice practices.”
Human trafficking is a persistent issue nationally. In 2021, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 51,073 contacts about human trafficking and issues related to it across the United States. For California, the hotline received 5,257 contacts. Of those contacts, 1,334 human trafficking cases were identified with 2,122 victims involved in those cases.
Law enforcement commonly treats human trafficking victims as perpetrators of crime. According to a 2023 National Survivor Study, 62% of survivors reported being cited, detained or arrested by law enforcement. This usually happened during their trafficking situation. Most of those surveyed indicated that all or at least some of their criminal record was related to their trafficking victimization.
“AB 2020 is a commonsense, smart solution that advances the health, safety, and well-being of victims of human trafficking,” said Natasha Minsker, Policy Advisor for Smart Justice California. “We thank Assemblymember Bonta for her unwavering commitment to ensuring that law enforcement agencies’ interactions with victims who are seeking safety are trauma-informed and based on best practices.”