DES MOINES — Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced that the law she championed to combat human trafficking officially took effect Monday, July 1. The law heightens penalties for human traffickers and ensures victims receive the support they need.
“Human trafficking is a heinous crime that can happen anywhere, including in our own backyard,” said Attorney General Bird. “We need to call it like it is-modern-day slavery. With this law, traffickers will serve mandatory prison time, and victims will have strong support through the criminal justice system. I thank the legislature and Governor Kim Reynolds for turning our bill into law. As Attorney General, I promise to continue working to combat human trafficking and protect victims.
The new law will do the following:
• Require human traffickers convicted of level “B” felonies to serve a mandatory minimum of 50% to 70% of their sentence without parole.
• Provide victims of human trafficking access to an advocate for support during criminal proceedings.
• Provide court-appointed counsel during criminal cases for witnesses with a mental disability.
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