McMaster signs anti-human trafficking bill

Governor Henry McMaster signed S. 142 into law during a ceremony. The law creates the crime of child luring in South Carolina and also strengthens existing laws against human trafficking.

“Protecting our children and victims of human trafficking is essential to building safe communities and helping our state thrive,” McMaster said in the release. “By introducing this legislation, we are not only defending our people, but we are also providing our prosecutors and law enforcement with additional tools to ensure criminals are held accountable.”

Child luring refers to “adults who lure, entice, or attempt to lure a child with the intent to harm them,” the press release states. If convicted of the crime, the criminal faces a fine of up to $10,000, a prison sentence of 10 years, or both.

The law also expands the definition of sex trafficking to include the sexual exploitation of minors and participation in the prostitution of minors.

“The new law provides greater protections for victims of human trafficking. Victims can now petition the court to have a non-violent offense stemming from human trafficking expunged if they were forced to commit the crime by their captor,” the press release said. “The bill also adds that a person under the age of 18 who is a victim of human trafficking cannot be prosecuted for prostitution or any other non-violent offense or Class F misdemeanor.”

“We must prevent victims from being prosecuted for crimes they committed because they were caught up in the human trafficking ring,” Attorney General Alan Wilson said in the release. “I am so grateful that we have created a safe haven to protect victims of human trafficking.”

McMaster was joined at the ceremony by Lt. Governor Pamela Evette, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Congresswoman Nancy Mace of SC-01 and several members of the state legislature.