Pennsylvania Legislature Passes Bill Protecting Exploited Children
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Pennsylvania Legislature Passes Bill Protecting Exploited Children


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After first being introduced in 2015, the Pennsylvania General Assembly unanimously passed Safe Harbor legislation that protects minors from being prosecuted for sexual exploitation. The bill now heads to Governor Tom Wolf's desk to sign into law.


The bill will do the following: 

  • Safe Harbor provides immunity to all minors for the crimes of prostitution and obstruction of the highway.
  • It provides alternatives to delinquency for sexually exploited children who could otherwise be charged with prostitution-related offenses. 
  • Safe Harbor mandates specialized training for law enforcement to identify and assist child victims as well as specialized victim services.
  • The amendment gives concurrent jurisdiction over the crime of human trafficking to the Attorney General's Office.


The bill was developed by Villanova Charles Widger School of Law's Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE Institute) and introduced by Pennsylvania state Senators Stewart Greenleaf and Daylin Leach. 



Shea Rhodes, (pictured above), is the Director of the CSE Institute and available to comment on the bill's passage. Click on her headshot above, email mediaexperts@villanova.edu or call 610-519-5152.



Connect with:
  • Shea  Rhodes, JD
    Shea Rhodes, JD Director, Villanova Law Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation | Charles Widger School of Law

    Shea Rhodes' expertise involves supporting survivors of human trafficking by fighting for prosecution of the purchaser of sex.

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