Kalish Cracks Down on Human Trafficking

CHICAGO – State Rep. Yehiel “Mark” Kalish, D-Chicago, helped pass a bill to crack down on human trafficking in Illinois and provide new training to police to help detect and prevent exploitation of women and children.

“We owe it to the survivors of human trafficking to make sure the perpetrators of such a heinous crime are brought to justice,” Kalish said. “This proposal gives law enforcement and prosecutors more tools to identify and convict individuals responsible for these abhorrent acts.”

Kalish backed Senate Bill 1890, a measure to strengthen the penalties for human trafficking. Under the bill, businesses that profit from human trafficking, involuntary servitude and sexual exploitation could faces fines of up to $100,000. Law enforcement officers would receive new human trafficking recognition and prevention training under the measure. Additionally, the bill gives police and survivors more time to bring traffickers to justice, extending the criminal and civil statutes of limitations to 25 years.

“To root out human trafficking in our communities we need to make sure that every bad actor that turns a blind eye is held accountable,” Kalish said. “If businesses are profiting from and not reporting these heinous acts, they must face strict repercussions for their actions.”