Lucy Lang Releases Plan To Combat Human Trafficking In Manhattan

LUCY LANG RELEASES PLAN TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN MANHATTAN

As Next Manhattan DA, Lang Will Expand Human Trafficking Response Unit & Strengthen Protections for Survivors

Lang Pledges to Support Survivors by Expunging Convictions Related to their Exploitation; Expand Use & Scope of U-visas & T-Visas to Assist Non-Citizen Victims of Labor Exploitation

February 2, 2021

Today, Manhattan District Attorney Candidate Lucy Lang released a comprehensive plan to end human trafficking in Manhattan. Lang’s plan will prioritize the health, safety and wellbeing of survivors, expand efforts to prosecute sex and labor exploitation, and protect non-citizen communities trafficked and exploited for their labor.

Sadly, New York is a human trafficking hub as both a transit point and final destination. Traffickers prey on our most vulnerable communities, including kids, people of color, trans people, and non-citizens. Anti-trafficking enforcement must prioritize the safety and wellbeing of trafficking survivors as a matter of justice and of gender and racial equity. Lucy’s approach will be survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and aggressive in pursuing those responsible for trafficking.

“For far too long, human traffickers have terrorized our most vulnerable communities - exploiting people in Manhattan for profit,” said Manhattan District Attorney Candidate Lucy Lang. “Enough is enough: Manhattan can no longer serve as a hub for human traffickers. My plan prioritizes the wellbeing of survivors while aggressively pursuing the traffickers who exploit them. As the next Manhattan DA, I’ll strengthen the Human Trafficking Response Unit, invest in programs that provide immediate help to trafficking survivors, expand the use of U-visas and T-visas to assist non-citizen survivors, and support survivors by expunging convictions that are related to their exploitation.”

To combat these crimes, Lucy will:

Expand and invest in the Human Trafficking Response Unit. Ending trafficking requires directing resources towards dismantling the complex networks that foster exploitation, and proactively building cases. The unit will also strengthen partnerships with banks, non-governmental organizations, and expert financial crimes investigators to identify and investigate trafficking based on financial indicators.
Expand trafficking prosecution efforts to include both sex and labor exploitation. Labor trafficking made up over 11% of all New York trafficking cases in 2019. Workers are regularly exploited through illegal and unconscionably low wages, dangerous working conditions, and exploitative power structures, and Lucy will prioritize the safety of our most vulnerable laborers.
Support and champion programs that provide immediate support to trafficking survivors. Even before their trafficking experiences, many survivors have suffered through abuse, addiction, and mental health instability. Lucy is committed to helping survivors access financial, legal, housing, and immigration assistance, as well as physical and mental health support. To accomplish this, she will build relationships with and advocate for organizations that provide such assistance.
Expand the use and scope of both U-visas and T-Visas. Many victims of human trafficking are not U.S. citizens; they are either exploited or brought by force. These visas grant undocumented survivors temporary permission to remain in the country. Lucy will be proactive in assisting victims in obtaining these visas and will expand the circumstances under which the District Attorney’s office will seek these visas for survivors.
Leverage the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act. This recently enacted legislation provides for reduced sentencing and resentencing for domestic violence victims, where their abuse was a significant contributing factor to their criminal conduct. Until legislation is passed that grants needed mercy to trafficking survivors accused of criminal conduct, Lucy will develop a collaborative and compassionate model for resolving cases involving trafficking victims, whenever possible, under the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act. Lucy’s model will involve outreach to defense counsel on open and closed cases, advocacy communities, and social service groups.
Increase prevention of the exchange of child sexual abuse materials. Children are especially vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic: online schooling and limited social interactions make it harder for parents and teachers to detect predatory behavior online. To address this, Lucy will create a coalition of DANY’s cyber crime experts, human-trafficking experts, and outside advocates to proactively work to stem the flood of these materials.
Advocate for the improvement of anti-trafficking laws to better serve survivors. Lucy will work to expand protections for survivors with developmental delays who are not adequately protected by existing legislation, which focuses on force rather than consent.
Support trafficking survivors in expunging convictions related to their exploitation. Lucy will take an expansive view of circumstances warranting expungement of prostitution-related offenses for victims of trafficking under current law and will, when appropriate, assist survivors in expunging and sealing these convictions. Additionally, survivors should not be saddled with a conviction for a non-prostitution-related offense that is likewise associated with their exploitation. Lucy will advocate for legislation that permits the expungement of such convictions, after the court hears from victims of the offense and finds expungement to be in the interest of justice.

To learn more about Lucy’s priorities, visit her plans page.