Tough new law targets, prosecutes human traffickers

Advocates say a new state law will help local law enforcement prosecute domestic disturbances that may be the result of human trafficking.

Rescue workers say Georgia is fifth in the nation in human trafficking – crimes which range from domestic servitude, to sweatshops to prostitution. Supporters of the new law say it's what is needed to prosecute human trafficking cases.

Until this year, human trafficking was only a federal offense. Now police called to a domestic disturbance can further investigate if they suspect someone is being held against their will.

Cobb County prosecutor Ann Harris helped write the law. She says it's not intended to eliminate federal prosecution. "It's not so much that there were gaps in federal prosecution, its just that there was a feeling that where there is human trafficking in our community, we need to deal with it in our community."

If convicted, traffickers in labor or sexual servitude face a minimum ten years in prison.