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Advocate urges stricter sentences for aggravated trafficking in testimony on HB2321
Summary
Tracy Cravens, a Roane County survivor advocate, urged the committee to adopt an amendment to HB2321 imposing the harshest penalties for aggravated sexual and human‑trafficking offenses; after testimony the committee took the bill off notice.
Tracy Cravens, who identified herself as a Roane County resident and advocate for survivors, urged the subcommittee to adopt an amendment to House Bill 2321 that would impose the most severe sentences for aggravated sexual and human‑trafficking crimes, including death or life without parole when specified. "I urge you to support the amendment to HB2321 with the stated sentencing of death penalty, life in prison without parole, or life in prison for aggravated [offenses] and human trafficking," she said.
Cravens described trafficking as an organized global industry and cited international figures and federal agency characterizations of the problem, saying survivors carry life‑long trauma and that existing penalties allow traffickers to reoffend. The committee asked no follow‑up questions after Cravens' testimony; Representative Ritz moved to take HB2321 off notice, and the chair confirmed the bill would be taken off notice for this session. The record shows no further action in this hearing on HB2321.
