John Choi, Ramsey County Attorney in Minnesota, United States, is hoping to expand the use of a civil statute that protects children from neglectful parents to allow for no-contact orders between perpetrators and juvenile victims of sex trafficking. The issue of protecting minor victims has received widespread attention in past months throughout the state and the nation. Minnesota has recently convicted multiple perpetrators of sex trafficking, and a nationwide sweep resulted in over 100 arrests and the recovery of over 100 juveniles.
By using
Minnesota statute 260C.335, prosecutors would be able to use civil law to acquire protection orders for child victims of human trafficking. Often, cases of minor sex trafficking do not have enough evidence to go to trial, so prosecutors are unable to request criminal protection orders during the trial. Choi's idea originates from strategies used in domestic violence cases in which temporary restraining orders against perpetrators are often used. This proposal would allow for greater protection of child victims of human trafficking.