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Jul 5, 2006 2:42 pm US/Central
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Law Allows Sex Trade Victims To Sue Their Abusers
Gov. Blagojevich Signed The Illinois Predator Accountability Act Into Law Monday
CHICAGO (STNG) ―
Gov. Blagojevich has signed the Illinois Predator Accountability Act, which allows victims of trafficking, pimping and the sex trade to sue their abusers for civil damages, according to a release.
The law, which became effective upon the governor's signing Monday, covers only those acts perpetrated after the enactment of House Bill 1299 -- meaning the survivors who worked more than a year advocating for the new law do not personally benefit by its provisions, according to the release from the Governor's office.
"Though it won't benefit me, I work with so many women who need to be empowered to know they did not deserve to be treated that way by anyone, for any amount of money," Olivia Howard, a survivor who works as manager of special services for the Haymarket Center, said in the release.
The bill passed the General Assembly 112-0 on April 5 and passed the Senate 45-9 vote on March 30.
Among those advocating for the new law were women survivors involved in the Prostitution Alternatives Round Table (PART) at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. CCH drafted the law, working with the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Kaethe Morris-Hoffer, an Evanston attorney who represents victims of violence in civil suits, the release said.
Modeled after laws in Florida, Hawaii and Minnesota, HB 1299 allows predators to be held liable for economic losses and damages for causing personal injury or death, the release said. Victims must prove in civil court that a defendant caused them long-term physical and emotional harm due to trafficking, pimping or other abuse that maintained them in the sex trade, according to the release.
Those most likely to be held accountable under the new law are individuals and entities that recruit, traffic, maintain and profit from people in the sex trade, such as pimps, abusive family members and agencies that use false advertising to lure people into illegal sex trade activities, the release said.
(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2006. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)