Child sexual exploitation remains a documented and serious national crisis.

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, in 2024 there were over 27,800 reports of possible child sex trafficking through its CyberTipline. The average age of minors reported missing and likely trafficked was 15.

The United States Department of Justice has conducted nationwide enforcement initiatives such as Operation Restore Justice, resulting in the rescue of over 100 children and arrests of more than 200 child sexual abuse offenders.

These facts show that child exploitation is not rare — it is ongoing and demands strong legal protections at the state level.

In light of this evidence, we respectfully request that the State of Maine legislature consider the following:

Enact or Strengthen Maximum Legal Penalties:
Ensure that individuals convicted of sexually exploiting children face the toughest penalties allowed under state law, especially for severe offenses and repeat offenders.
Hold Accomplices and Enablers Accountable
Amend statutes to clearly criminalize aiding, abetting, facilitating, or profiting from the exploitation of minors — including those who assist traffickers or distribute illicit materials.

Oversight and Transparency:

Establish clear reporting and oversight standards for any institution or third party that handles minors' personal information or imagery, to prevent exploitation and protect families' rights.

Support Prevention and Victim Services
Allocate increased resources for prevention programs, public education, trafficking awareness initiatives, and comprehensive victim support services, including medical, legal, and psychological care.

Protecting children should never be partisan. It is a moral and public safety priority.

Protecting children from sexual exploitation, trafficking, and other severe crimes requires not only enforcement — but legislation that clearly reflects the seriousness of these offenses and prioritizes the safety of our youth.

We urge you to exercise leadership on this issue and support reforms that protect children and hold offenders accountable.