NEW YORK CITY BAR ASSOCIATION URGES GOVERNOR PATERSON TO SIGN ANTI-SEX TRAFFICKING LEGISLATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Eric Friedman
(212) 382-6754
Kathryn Inman
212-382-6656

New York City Bar Association Urges Governor Paterson to Sign Anti-Sex Trafficking Legislation

New York , NY , June 21, 2010 – The New York City Bar Association has written to Governor Paterson urging him to sign A.7670/S.4429, a bill that would amend the criminal procedure law in relation to victims of sex trafficking convicted of prostitution offenses. The letter, signed by Rachel L. Braunstein, Chair of the City Bar’s Sex and Law Committee, reads as follows:

I am writing to urge you to sign A.7670/S.4429 into law once it is delivered to your office by the Assembly. For your consideration, I enclose our memo in support.

This legislation would enable certain persons to vacate their convictions for prostitution-related offenses that resulted from their forced involvement in the sex trades or some other form of trafficking in persons. The bill would build upon New York State’s Anti-Trafficking Law, which provides victims of sex trafficking with assistance and social services to facilitate their reintegration into society but fails to provide an avenue for such victims to address the single issue that could most seriously impact that process — a criminal record showing a prior conviction or multiple convictions for prostitution-related offenses.

The legislation passed in the Senate on June 15, 2010 and was passed unanimously by the Assembly in June 2009 and again in March of this year. We urge you to sign this important legislation into law and give victims of human trafficking the fresh start they deserve.

Thank you for your consideration.

Read the Committee on Sex and Law’s report at http://bit.ly/aAWCEl

About the Association

The New York City Bar Association (www.nycbar.org) was founded in 1870, and since then has been dedicated to maintaining the high ethical standards of the profession, promoting reform of the law, and providing service to the profession and the public. The Association continues to work for political, legal and social reform, while implementing innovative means to help the disadvantaged. Protecting the public’s welfare remains one of the Association’s highest priorities.