Bring Safe Harbor to Wisconsin

Bring Safe Harbor to Wisconsin
Why this petition matters
Sex-trafficking has officially been reported in all 72 counties of Wisconsin, and Milwaukee has ranked third in the nation in terms of recovering minors from human-trafficking situations, with the average age of victims between 12 and 14 years old. Wisconsin's law currently allows police to prosecute children under the age of 18 with prostitution, instead of identifying the youth as victims of sex trafficking. The Safe Harbor Bill protects minors from being prosecuted for prostitution and instead offers adequate services for victims. The Bill requires minors to be identified as victims instead of criminals and to be referred to human services instead of jail time. Currently in Wisconsin, Senate Bill 49, also referred to as Assembly Bill 41, is moving through the legislative process. If passed, it will further protect youth from sex-trafficking in the State of Wisconsin. The Safe Harbor Act has already been enacted by 20 other states, including Minnesota and Illinois, and it is time the State of Wisconsin joins the movement.