While a number of laws in Alaska deal with trafficking, efforts are underway to strengthen these laws. In the last legislative session, Gov. Sean Parnell introduced a bill to provide stronger protections for victims and survivors, while strengthening penalties and sentences for sex trafficking and giving law enforcement more investigative tools to track down and prosecute offenders.
House Bill 73, which is still under consideration in the current legislative session, would authorize the court to order GPS tracking on perpetrators and restrict offenders in custody from contacting a victim. Additionally, the bill would remove the statute of limitations for crimes of felony sex trafficking and human trafficking.
The proposed bill would also mandate the forfeiture of property used in these crimes.
Additionally, the bill allows the attorney general to request court permission to intercept private conversations in connection with sex trafficking, a tool currently available in cases of murder, kidnapping or serious drug offenses.
In regards to sentencing, the HB 73 would allow for sentences for two or more crimes involving child pornography and similar offences to be handed down in consecutive terms for each crime. The bill would prohibit reduced sentences for good time if the convict has committed an unclassified or Class A sexual felony.
The bill is currently sitting in the House Finance Committee.
'Bill aims to strengthen anti-trafficking efforts'
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