SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Under a new law sponsored by state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, individuals suspected of human trafficking will no longer be able to evade prosecution in cases involving minors due to a legal loophole.

“It’s unconscionable to think that an individual guilty of the human trafficking of minors could evade punishment due to a technicality in the law,” said Hoffman. “This new law ends that loophole and helps ensure the perpetrators of these horrible acts are brought to justice.”

Hoffman’s measure, Senate Bill 1842, increases the amount of time that a prosecutor has to bring charges against the perpetrator of the human trafficking of minors. Under current law, prosecutors only have one year after a victim turns 18 to file charges, Hoffman’s legislation increases that period to 25 years.

The proposal received bipartisan support in the House and Senate and was recently signed into law by the governor.

“The children who are victims of these terrible crimes oftentimes do not have the support structures intact to bring charges immediately,” said Patricia McKnight, child trafficking survivor and Midwest Regional Director with the National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse. “This new law removes an unjust burden placed on victims and makes it easier to put the individuals committing these despicable acts behind bars. I would like to thank Rep. Hoffman and everyone involved for standing up for justice and getting this law passed.”