SB 473 would add human trafficking to the list of 33 crimes that define a criminal street gang under the California Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act.
The district attorneys of San Diego and Riverside counties joined a state senator Monday to urge passage of bills to treat human trafficking crimes committed by gang members with the same severity as other gang offenses, and to streamline prosecution of human trafficking.
The measures — both authored by Sen. Marty Block, D-San Diego — are subject to a final vote by the state Legislature this week.
Senate Bill 473 would add human trafficking to the list of 33 crimes that define a criminal street gang under the California Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act. The anti-gang laws include strict penalties, but the statute has not been updated to include gang involvement in human trafficking, according to Block.
Inclusion would add enhanced penalties, affect probation and parole conditions, augment law enforcement tools and affect the way cases are handled by all stakeholders in the system.
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