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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