This bill amends existing laws to make human trafficking-related crimes, including human trafficking, assisting in human trafficking, and commercial sexual abuse of a minor, subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA). Under the current law, these crimes are not included in NERA, which mandates that individuals convicted of certain first and second-degree crimes must serve a minimum of 85% of their sentence before being eligible for parole. The bill specifies that individuals convicted of human trafficking will face a sentence of 24 years to life imprisonment, with 85% of the sentence required to be served before parole eligibility. Additionally, it establishes that those convicted of assisting in human trafficking or commercial sexual abuse of a minor must also serve 85% of their imposed sentence before being eligible for parole.

The bill further modifies the sentencing structure for these crimes. For instance, it removes the previous provision that allowed for a 20-year minimum term for human trafficking and replaces it with a requirement for a term of 24 years to life imprisonment. It also introduces a mandatory fine of at least $25,000 for those convicted, which will be directed to the "Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund." Overall, the bill aims to strengthen penalties for human trafficking offenses and ensure that offenders serve a significant portion of their sentences before being considered for parole.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:13-8, 2C:43-7.2