FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, April 19, 2013
CONTACT:
Jessica Goodman
[email protected]
703-772-7168
Delegate Barbara Comstock To
Host Human Trafficking Forum With Congressman Frank Wolf And Local
Leaders
McLean, VA - Delegate
Comstock (R-34) will host a town hall meeting on Friday, May 3rd
with Congressman Wolf and a panel of local experts, federal and state
officials to educate the community about human sex trafficking in
Virginia
and how the
Commonwealth is cracking down on this growing crime and how we can
further increase awareness of the
threat posed in our area.
WHAT:
Human Trafficking Forum
WHEN:
Friday, May 3rd, 2013 at 9:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
WHERE:
McLean
Community Center
Community
Hall
1234
Ingleside Avenue
McLean,
Virginia 22101
HOSTS:
Delegate
Barbara Comstock
Congressman
Frank Wolf
Delegate
Tim Hugo
Richmond
Justice Initiative
FEATURED
PANELISTS:
Delegate
Barbara Comstock
Dr.
Courtney Gaskins, Youth For Tomorrow
Delegate
Tim Hugo
Sara
Pomeroy, Richmond Justice Initiative
Congressman
Frank Wolf
Det.
Bill Woolf, Fairfax County Police Dept.
Staca
Shehan, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Holly
Alfano, NATSO
Background:
Delegate Comstock
has been working with Representative Wolf, community groups as well as state and
federal agencies to address human sex trafficking in Virginia. Delegate
Comstock is a member of a bipartisan coalition in the General Assembly that
works on human trafficking laws. Several bills were passed and signed by the
Governor this year and last legislative session relating to strengthening the
laws on this issue.
This legislative
session, Delegate Comstock was a chief co-patron of HB 1606, which was
introduced by Delegate Hugo. This legislation makes soliciting a minor younger
than 16 years of age a Class 5 felony and any person who solicits prostitution
from a minor 16 years of age or older is guilty of a Class 6 felony. Delegate
Comstock was also a chief co-patron of HB 1870 which allows a multijurisdiction
grand jury to investigate human sex trafficking cases where the suspect received
money for procuring another individual to engage in prostitution.
Delegate Comstock's
legislation from the 2012 session, HB 546, cracks down on those engaged in human
trafficking and provides additional penalties and tools for prosecutors. HB 546
addresses the growth of gangs such as MS-13 operating prostitution rings in our
area who are now engaged in this heinous crime. These criminal traffickers have
victimized women and girls in our area, exploiting them as part of their crime
operations.
This forum will be
held as a part of Delegate Comstock's efforts to ensure that residents are
educated on recent events exposing the human trafficking going on in our area
and on how to become more effective advocates on halting this threat. The
representatives listed above will make a presentation informing residents about
recent cases of human trafficking in Virginia, what officials and organizations
are doing to combat this problem and address questions from the audience.
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