ST. PAUL, MN – A Wilder Research report on the first year of Minnesota’s Safe Harbor Program – which treats sexually exploited and trafficked youth as victims rather than criminals – recommends that the law’s protections be extended to those over the age of 18.
State Rep. John Lesch (DFL – St. Paul), chief House author of the bipartisan bill to expand these protections, applauds this recommendation, one of 11 made in the report.
“I’m proud to be the chief author of this important piece of legislation, and I’m happy that key stakeholders agree that this is the right direction,” Lesch said. “While we have a great deal of work to do to end the practice of sex trafficking, this method has been proven around the world, and would be a great step forward to protect women and girls.”
42 percent of the experts and Safe Harbor grantees interviewed for the report recommended expanding the age limit. This approach, known as the “Nordic model” or “Swedish model,” in effect puts the attention of law enforcement where it should be: on the buyers and traffickers of human beings for sex, rather than their victims. It decriminalizes prostituted people, while continuing to penalize the perpetrators.
Under the law, there were 163 clients in first full year of the program. In addition to the statutory protections for sexually exploited youth, the Safe Harbor Program includes funding for law enforcement training and outreach as well as victim services such as crisis management, health care, legal assistance and housing.
Lesch’s bill, House File 2355, awaits potential action by the House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Committee when the Legislature reconvenes in March.
The report materials can be accessed at Wilder’s website.
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