Bill > HR7225

This bill, titled the "Protecting Child Sex Trafficking Victim Witnesses Act," aims to enhance the safety and well-being of child victims of sex trafficking when they testify against their traffickers. It mandates that the Attorney General, within 18 months of enactment, develop and publish victim-centered guidance to minimize the negative impacts of testifying on these children. This guidance will cover practices for safe travel and lodging, the use of child advocacy and family justice centers, and safety planning, including after a trial concludes. Furthermore, the bill requires the Attorney General to train all U.S. Attorney offices on this new guidance within 180 days of its publication. It also amends existing laws to ensure that federal law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges receive training on these victim-centered protocols, and that grant funding can be used to implement these protections. Finally, the bill updates federal law concerning the rights of child victims and witnesses by expanding the definition of offenses to include child sex trafficking and allowing for digital recordings in addition to videotapes for testimony, thereby modernizing protections for these vulnerable individuals.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7225/all-info