(LAPEER COUNTY) — Legislation introduced by State Representative Gary Howell of North Branch will help enable juvenile victims of human trafficking who were convicted of prostitution-related crimes to clear their criminal records. Representative Howell says the legislation will give minors who were forced to commit crimes because of human trafficking, a fresh start as they seek expungement of their criminal records and make a new life. Other measures in the three-bill package pertain to juvenile convictions and greater penalties in sex trafficking cases and were introduced by State Representative Laura Cox of Livonia and Representative Nancy Jenkins of Clayton. Howell says their legislation turns the attention to those minors who were vulnerable and were used in commission of crimes against their will. The bills have been referred to the House Committee on Criminal Justice.
