Lilly Legislation to Crack Down on Human Trafficking Signed into Law

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – Survivors of human trafficking will have more time to get justice and businesses that profit from labor and sexual exploitation will face tougher penalties under a new law sponsored by state Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, cracking down on human trafficking.

“No person should face sexual exploitation or involuntary servitude, but we owe those who are victims of this terrible crime the ability to achieve justice,” Lilly said. “This measure cracks down on those who profit from human trafficking and gives law enforcement additional training to help prevent women and children from becoming victims of exploitation and servitude.”

Lilly sponsored Senate Bill 1890 to reform the state’s human trafficking laws in order to crack down on businesses that profit from sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude of women and children. Under the measure, the civil and criminal statute of limitations for human trafficking crimes would be extended from three years to 25 years while business profiting from human trafficking would be punished in Illinois for the first time, with fines ranging up to $100,000. Additionally, law enforcement officers in Illinois would be required to undergo in-service training programs to detect and investigate all forms of human trafficking.

“This legislation not only increases penalties for the perpetrators of human trafficking, but it also gives survivors the time and tools they need to achieve justice,” Lilly said. “I applaud my colleagues in the Legislature and Governor J.B. Pritzker for supporting this critical measure to help survivors of human trafficking.”