What laws in Louisiana protect children from trafficking?

What laws in Louisiana protect children from trafficking?

Children are often exploited for child labor or begging. These numbers are not the complete list of cases of human trafficking, but they do give some indication of how many occurred. The illegal recruitment, transfer, transport, receipt, or sheltering of children under 18 years old by threats, coercion, and force or inducing fear of exploitation is known as child trafficking. There were 11,500 human trafficking cases in the United States. In 2019, Louisiana had 159 cases. This only shows the number of cases reported to the hotline via text, phone calls, emails, and tips. Many victims don’t seek help because they fear their traffickers, fear the law, or the language barrier.

Simple Burglary

Louisiana law says that La. R.S. R.S. 14:60. Simple burglary refers to the unauthorized entry of any dwelling, vehicle or watercraft or any other structure, movable and immovable, as well as any cemetery with the intent of committing a felony or any theft.

What Louisiana laws protect minors from trafficking?

Louisiana Revised Statutes SS14:46.2(A), (1)(a), Human Trafficking, state, among other things, that it is illegal for anyone to knowingly recruit or harbor, transport or provide, solicit or receive, isolate or entice or obtain the use of another person via fraud, force or coercion to supply services or labor. If the trafficking is committed by a minor, the offender may be sentenced to a maximum of $25,000 in fines and not more than five years imprisonment with hard labor. The sentence does not include any suspensions, probation, or parole.

LA Rev Stat SS14:46.3 also makes it illegal to traffic children for sexual purposes. This law is:

1. A person who knowingly harbors or transports, sells, or procures, buys or sells, receives or obtains, entices or isolates an individual under 18 years old to engage in commercial sexual activity or knowingly benefits from such prohibited activities shall be punished.
2. Legal guardians, Parents, and any other person who has custody of minors are prohibited from consenting or knowingly allowing them to engage in any activity prohibited by this section.
3. Any person guilty of knowingly aiding, abetting, or conspiring in such activities shall be punished by law. This applies regardless of whether they were promised something of value.
4. A person found to have knowingly promoted any prohibited activities under this Section shall be prosecuted according to law.
5. A person who sells or offers to sell travel services that facilitate or include the above activities will be prosecuted.

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How can you identify potential trafficking dangers?

Trafficking in people, particularly children, is primarily a covert crime. The United Nations Office on Crime and Drugs has developed a number of key indicators to help you identify potential endangerment so you can inform law enforcement as quickly as possible. These indicators are:

1. Signs of physical abuse or looking injured
2. Appearing malnourished
3. Responding in a scripted or rehearsed manner
4. Avoid eye contact and social interaction
5. How to avoid law enforcement
6. Not having personal possessions
7. No personal identification documents

Although there are some positive signs that the state legislature is making progress in raising awareness about and preventing human trafficking, there is still much work.

It should be a top priority to help victims rebuild their lives and to put the perpetrators behind bars. The state should also invest in safer harbor programs that are available to all victims of trafficking. Additionally, the legislature should be more involved with institutions providing practical and psychological support for the victims.

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