Honorable John T. Smithee, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB11 by Parker (Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for certain victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution.), As Engrossed
The bill would amend the list of general defenses to criminal responsibility by including the affirmative defense, applicable in limited circumstances, that an actor, who is a victim of the offense of trafficking or compelling prostitution, engaged in the conduct as a direct result of being caused, through means of force, fraud, or coercion, to engage in that specific conduct.
Amending the list of general defenses to criminal responsibility may result in decreases in demands upon state correctional resources due to a possible decrease in the number of individuals placed under supervision in the community or sentenced to a term of confinement.
The impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources cannot be determined due to a lack of data to estimate the prevalence of applicable cases.