Governor Rell Signs Bill That Toughens

 Laws, Sanctions Against Child Predators

Governor’s Bill Allows State to Seize Assets of Human Traffickers

            Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced she has signed into a law a bill that she proposed that will allow the state to seize the assets of criminals who exploit children and engage in human trafficking, much the same way that assets of drug dealers are forfeited.

            House Bill 5030, An Act Concerning the Forfeiture of Money and Property Related to Child Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking and the Possession of Child Pornography, also expands the definition of 1^st degree possession of child pornography.

            “Greed is what drives these sick individuals who have absolutely no regard for humanity. My proposal goes after the one thing they covet – money. They will pay and they will pay dearly for victimizing our children and for exploiting others into a degrading, dangerous and criminal lifestyle,” Governor Rell said. “We must ensure that human traffickers not keep one dime of any asset – bank accounts, homes, cars, anything – derived from their criminal enterprise, and that they go to prison and stay there.”

The Governor’s bill criminalizes the use of “interactive” computer and Internet services, such as a webcam or phone camera, to entice minors to display their intimate body parts and engage in a sexual act. The assets of those convicted would be subject to forfeiture and would help provide funding to the state’s criminal justice system.

The new law allows the state to seize any cash or property intended for or gained from promoting prostitution, human trafficking, enticing a child into an obscene act, importing child pornography and voyeurism. State prosecutors can file a petition for forfeiture no later than 90 days after the assets have been seized. The law does have safeguards for those individuals who had no knowledge that their property was being used for criminal means.

The state will sell the forfeited property at public auction and proceeds must be used to:

·        Pay the balance due on any lien the court preserved;

·        Pay any costs incurred for storage and maintenance of the property

·        Pay for court costs, with any remainder deposited into the General Fund

            The Governor’s bill also expands the definition of 1^st degree child pornography possession to knowingly possessing one or more visual depictions that show infliction or threatened infliction of serious injury to a child. It carries penalties of up to 20 years in prison and $15,000 in fines. Previously, a person could be convicted of 1^st degree possession of child pornography if that individual had 50 or more visual depictions of child pornography.

            “This amounts to a zero tolerance policy when it comes to child pornography and we have made it quite clear with this law,” the Governor said. “Child predators must have no place to hide in Connecticut.”