COLUMBUS, OHIO -- COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has signed a bill making human trafficking a felony crime.
Senate Bill 235 was created by Sen. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) and marks the final piece of legislation of her two terms as Ohio's 11th District State Senator.
Ohio was among a handful of states without a stand-alone human trafficking law. Prosecutors previously could beef up related crimes by attaching a human trafficking specification to increase an offender's penalties. Backers of the new law said prosecutors don't use the specification because it's complicated.
The new statute, which takes effect in March, makes the stand-alone felony punishable by up to eight years in prison.
“Human trafficking is thriving in Ohio and today we begin to stop modern-day slavery!” Sen. Fedor said in a statement. “Signing S.B. 235 into law means Ohio is no longer a safe haven for trafficking. We now close the gap that exists between our criminal code and the reality of human trafficking.”
Gov. Strickland says that establishing human trafficking as a second-degree felony is an important step in taking on a "horrific human rights violation."
“We send a strong message to traffickers that they will face serious charges for exploiting our most vulnerable citizens – Ohio will no longer target victims and ignore those who engage in and finance trafficking," said Fedor. "And to Ohio victims who feel trapped: the circumstance you find yourself in is not your fault. With the passage of this bill, Ohio is now a place where help is available.”
The legislation also clarifies and strengthens penalties for kidnapping, abduction and other related offenses.
(The Associated Press contributed to this article.)
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