New York allows child victims of sex trafficking and abuse to be prosecuted and sentenced as adults—often for actions taken to survive exploitation or violence. Too many young people who were harmed first by traffickers and abusers are harmed again by the criminal legal system.

This legislation changes that.

Assembly Bill 2712A would ensure that when a young person’s offense is directly connected to their trafficking or exploitation, courts have the authority to respond with rehabilitation instead of mandatory punishment. It gives judges discretion to depart from mandatory minimum sentences, transfer cases back to Family Court, and tailor outcomes that recognize trauma, youth, and victimization.

The legislation also allows survivors who are currently incarcerated for offenses committed as minors to seek resentencing if their conduct was the result of trafficking or abuse—offering long-overdue relief to individuals who never should have been treated as criminals in the first place.

This is a common sense, survivor-centered reform that:

• Keeps exploited children out of the adult criminal system
• Prioritizes treatment and rehabilitation over incarceration
• Aligns New York law with trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate practices
• Promotes public safety by addressing root causes rather than imposing excessive punishment

Survivors deserve support—not prison sentences.

Tell New York lawmakers to pass this legislation and ensure our justice system stops punishing young people for surviving exploitation.