King County prosecutors press for tougher penalties for buyers, call for more survivor resources ahead of World Cup

Senior deputy prosecutors from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office briefed the Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee on Jan. 27, urging the city and state to tighten penalties for buyers and expand survivor services.

"Human trafficking is defined as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of exploitation," said Alex Voorhees, a senior deputy prosecutor, in opening the presentation. Voorhees and Bridal McGinnis outlined how Washington law treats exploitation of minors as a per se violation and stressed the prosecutorial focus on traffickers and buyers rather than prosecuting people for simple prostitution.

McGinnis told the committee that the office is backing House Bill 2526. "That bill directly addresses ... by increasing the crime of patronizing a prostitute to a class C felony," she said, and the proposal would "double the associated fines and fees" while directing…