In a bid to intensify the fight against sex trafficking in San Diego, Mayor Todd Gloria, together with San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl and San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, have announced the implementation of Assembly Bill 379. According to a report by Inside San Diego, the legislation, which becomes operational tomorrow, aims to prosecute buyers of prostitution and recognize exploited individuals as victims.
Mayor Gloria emphasized the significance of the bill, stating, "Assembly Bill 379 gives our city stronger, smarter tools to address prostitution and human trafficking by holding buyers accountable and treating exploited individuals as victims." Sponsored by Mayor Gloria and fought for by District Attorney Stephan over a decade, this law intends to recalibrate the city's approach towards prostitution by focusing more on those who stimulate demand rather than solely on those providing the services. Although the effectiveness of these measures is yet to be seen in the streets of San Diego, the wheels of justice, albeit slowly, seem to finally pivot towards a more victim-oriented paradigm.
District Attorney Stephan pointed out the grave nature of the offense, "Buying children who under the law cannot consent to sex can only be described as slavery," as reported by Inside San Diego. She has been a longstanding advocate for the robust daress for those purchasing sex, particularly from minors. The urgency tackling sex trafficking as a form of modern-day slavery is reflected in the stern provisions of AB 379.
Police Chief Wahl, aligning with the goals of the law, said via Inside San Diego, "This law gives our officers the tools they need to intervene, protect victims, particularly minors, and hold offenders accountable." Specifically, the new law makes loitering with the intent to purchase commercial sex a crime, and it addresses the shortcomings of previous legislation, such as Senate Bill 357, which repealed a loitering law related to prostitution in 2022. With the new law, San Diego police now hope to make strides in safeguarding neighborhoods and providing some semblance of normalcy to those impacted by the dark trade of human flesh.
The comprehensive law also establishes a 'Survivor Support Fund,' which is to finance grants for community organizations that aid victims of sex trafficking and exploitation. Moreover, it ups the ante for civil penalties against businesses found in violation of human trafficking-related crimes.
