The Senate Corrections and Criminal Code Committee heard Sen. Sandlin’s SB 166 on vacating convictions of trafficked persons. The bill provides that a child who was adjudicated a delinquent child for an act performed while the child was a victim of human trafficking may have the adjudication vacated if certain conditions are met. The bill also provides that an adult victim of human trafficking convicted of a nonviolent offense committed while being trafficked may have the conviction vacated if certain conditions are met.
Sen. Sandlin offered an amendment which was adopted by consent deleting “may” and inserting “shall” at several places and inserting language that the child was compelled to make it consistent with related parts of the bill. Sen. Lanane offered an amendment which would amend the prostitution offense to require that the offender be eighteen (18) years of age or older and adds to the definition of victim of trafficking children who had been committing acts of prostitution. Delaware Circuit Judge Kimberly Dowling testified in favor of the bill and of Sen. Lanane’s amendment, which was adopted by consent. The bill passed as amended 7-0.
Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/bills/senate/166