>> OUR STATE PASSED KEY LEGISLATION IN 2013 TO ADDRESS SEX TRAFFICKING IN NEVADA.

WE'RE EXAMINING ITS IMPACT SOME EIGHT YEARS LATER.

THAT'S THIS WEEK ON "NEVADA WEEK."

[MUSIC] >> SUPPORT FOR "NEVADA WEEK" IS PROVIDED BY SENATOR WILLIAM H. HERNSTADT AND ADDITIONAL SPONSORS.

>> ASSEMBLY BILL 67, OR AB67, WAS A MULTIFACETED BILL INTENDED TO BETTER PROTECT VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING AND HOLD THEIR ATTACKERS MORE ACCOUNTABLE.

IT PASSED IN 2013 WITH UNANIMOUS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

THE BILL FIRST ESTABLISHED THE CRIME OF SEX TRAFFICKING INTO LAW.

BUT PRIOR TO THAT IT FELL INTO PANDERING.

MORE COMPREHENSIVELY, AB67 BROKE GROUND IN MANY AREAS, INCLUDING INCREASING PENALTIES FOR TRAFFICKERS, ALLOWING VICTIMS TO RECEIVE RESTITUTION FROM TRAFFICKERS AND THE INTERCEPTION OF THE VICTIMS TESTIMONY.

AT THE TIGHT OF PASSING OF THIS BILL MANY CALLED IT A LANDMARK BILL IN CURBING SEX TRAFFICKING IN NEVADA.

OUR DISCUSSION ON THIS SHOW IS TO EXPLORE THE IMPACT OF A LANDMARK BILL AFTER THE FACT.

TO JOIN IN THIS DISCUSSION, PLEASE WELCOME MELISSA HOLLAND, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AWAKEN.

SAMUEL MARTINEZ, CHIEF DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR CLARK COUNTY.

AND JASON FRIERSON, SPEAKER OF OUR NEVADA STATE ASSEMBLY.

WELL, MELISSA, SAM, SPEAKER FRIERSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WANTED TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR VIEWERSHIP AS WELL FOR BEING HERE DURING A VERY TRYING WEEK DURING WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND OTHER GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND OUR HOPE FOR THIS SHOW IS THAT FOCUSING ON BIPARTISAN SUPPORT THROUGH A LANDMARK BILL THAT HAS PASSED THROUGH OUR LEGISLATION CAN BE SOMEWHAT UPLIFTING IN A VERY TRYING TIME.

SPEAKER FRIERSON, I WANTED TO GO TO YOU FIRST AND LET'S TALK EXACTLY ABOUT THAT LANDMARK BILL THAT WAS SAID A LOT WHEN THE BILL PASSED IN 2013.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT THE MEANING IS FROM LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVE WHAT A LANDMARK BILL IS AND AB67 IS FOR THAT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AB67 IS A BILL I WAS PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHEPHERD THROUGH WITH LEADERSHIP OF CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO.

I THINK THAT NEVADA IS A VERY UNIQUE STATE WITH RESPECT TO OUR EXISTING STATUTORY SCHEME.

IT MIGHT MAKE IT MUCH MORE TEMPTING FOR FOLKS TO VICTIMIZE PEOPLE WITH RESPECT TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

I THINK IT WAS A LANDMARK NOT ONLY WITHIN OUR STATE BUT I THINK IN THE COUNTRY, A SWEEPING CHANGE TO HOW WE LOOK AT SEX TRAFFICKING IN PARTICULAR AND HOW WE TREAT VICTIMS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO IT.

SO ATTORNEY GENERAL CORTEZ MASTO, THEN ATTORNEY GENERAL, WAS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WANTING TO ADVANCE LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE THAT NEVADA WAS NOT ON THE MAP OF STATES THAT WELCOMED THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THAT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN PARTICULAR, COMPTON, CALIFORNIA, WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED HAS BECOME A HUB FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT'S JUST SOME 500 MILES AWAY.

I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE MADE THAT STATEMENT GIVEN ALL THE DYNAMICS OF OUR STATE.

>> SO MAKING THE STATEMENT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, OF COURSE.

MELISSA, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE VICTIM SIDE OF THIS, OF COURSE.

VICTIM SERVICES AND HOW THE BILL POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE CHANGED OR BEEN GROUNDBREAKING IN THAT STAGE.

AND THEN OF COURSE THE VICTIMS THEMSELVES.

GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE PERSPECTIVE THERE.

>> I APPRECIATE THE USE OF THE WORD GROUNDBREAKING BECAUSE IT REALLY DID DESCRIBE WHAT THAT BILL WAS DOING AND THE EFFECT THAT IT'S HAD SINCE THEN.

THERE'S CERTAINLY BEEN A RIPPLE EFFECT.

BUT PRIOR TO SENATOR MASTO'S PREVIOUSLY ATTORNEY GENERAL MASTO THERE WASN'T EVEN A LAW IN NEVADA FOR SEX TRAFFICKING SPECIFICALLY.

WE DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO THE FEDERAL STATUTES ON IT.

IT WAS JUST PIMPING AND PANDERING.

SO WE NEVER HAD VICTIMS THAT WERE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO TRUST THE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE BECAUSE THE SYSTEM HAD REALLY FAILED THEM PRIOR TO THAT.

>> SAM, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THIS.

OF COURSE A LOT OF THE PROVISIONS IN THE ORIGINAL BILL WERE FOCUSED ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND I'M SURE YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL DRAFT IN 2013 AND WHAT THE LANGUAGE WAS IN THAT BILL.

WHAT STANDS OUT TO YOU AS FAR AS NEW GROUND THAT WAS COVERED IN THAT BILL.

>> WELL, I THINK THE POTENTIAL PENALTIES THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PASSING OF A LEGISLATION WAS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO PROSECUTING THESE CASES, WHEN IT COMES TO TRYING TO RESOLVE THESE CASES.

IT REQUIRED SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION ON HUMAN TRAFFICKERS, WHICH WASN'T IN THE LAW BEFORE.

AND THE PENALTIES ARE MUCH MORE SEVERE AND I THINK IT WAS GROUNDBREAKING AS WELL.

IT CREATED NOT ONLY SO MUCH PUBLIC AWARENESS BUT ALSO AWARENESS IN THE JUDICIARY FROM MY PERSPECTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO SETTING BAIL.

WHEN IT COMES TO SENTENCING, WHEN IT COMES TO HEARING VICTIMS TESTIFY AT PRELIMINARY HEARINGS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

I THINK IT WAS GROUNDBREAKING.

>> IT'S A GREAT POINT.

AND SPEAKER FRIERSON LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT THAT, THE PUBLIC AWARENESS SIDE OF THIS.

JUST TO MELISSA'S POINT PART OF THE BILL IS TO FINALLY ESTABLISH THE CRIME OF SEX TRAFFICKING.

WE LOOK AT THAT NOW AND WE THINK THAT ALMOST SOUNDS UNHEARD OF THAT WAS FIRST IMPLEMENTED IN 2013.

OBVIOUSLY THAT SHOWS A HUGE PARADIGM THAT HAS CHANGED.

I MEAN, IS THAT A BIG PART OF AN INITIAL INTRODUCTORY BILL LIKE THIS?

>> I THINK IT'S A HUGE PART OF AN EFFORT LIKE THIS.

AND WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO.

I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK THAT OUR WORK IS DONE.

WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO EVEN MOST RECENTLY WE ATTEMPTED TO PASS LEGISLATION DEALING WITH HOTLINES FOR VICTIMS TO CALL IN.

BUT YOU SEE NOW, I THINK AS A RESULT OF THE MOMENTUM THAT QUITE FRANKLY I BELIEVE IF NOT STARTED REALLY TOOK OFF AFTER OUR 2013 EFFORT YOU SEE HOTLINES IN THE AIRPORT AND BATHROOMS AND CABS.

BUT I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY IS YOU SEE LOOKING AT VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING DIFFERENTLY.

AND SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE IN 2013 IF YOU HAVE TWO 16-YEAR-OLDS, IF ONE OF THEM IS BETTER WITH MONEY AND THEY'RE HOMELESSNESS OR IN THE STREETS IS THAT PERSON A VICTIM OR PANDERER?

I THINK THOSE WERE THE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WE HAD TO HAVE TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THESE ARE VICTIMS AND THESE FOLKS HAVE -- DIDN'T START OUT WHEN THEY WERE 16.

AND SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT I THINK SOCIETY DID NOT HANDLE AND LET THEM DOWN THAN TO GO FURTHER DOWN THAT ROAD.

I THINK GETTING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE JUDICIARY AND PROSECUTOR BUY-IN THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VICTIMS HERE, I THINK REALLY WAS A BIG CHANGE IN DIRECTION.

I ALSO AGREE THAT THE PENALTIES WERE SIGNIFICANT AND USUALLY WE HAVE PENALTIES AND THERE'S A CONCERN THIS DOESN'T REALLY REDUCE CRIME.

THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY THINKS ABOUT WHEN THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO COME TO NEVADA.

I THINK WITH THIS LEGISLATION AND WITH THE EFFORTS SINCE THEN, THIS REALLY DOES START THE PROCESS OF CREATING A LESS TEMPTING ENVIRONMENT IN NEVADA BECAUSE THERE'S A MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT PENALTY AND IN PARTICULAR I THINK THE CIVIL PENALTY THAT WE ATTACHED WITH TAKING AWAY SOMEBODY'S MOTIVATION TO LIVE OFF THE EARNINGS OF SOMEONE IS HOMELESS VICTIMIZED TRAFFICKING I THINK ARE SIGNIFICANT MOVES THAT HAVE CHANGED THE CONVERSATION BOTH IN POLICYMAKING AS WELL AS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

>> WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE CIVIL PART IN JUST A SECOND.

SAM, I WANT TO COME BACK AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT SPEAKER FRIERSON WAS SAID THERE ABOUT HOW VICTIMS ARE REGARDED GOING BACK TO SOMETHING YOU ORIGINALLY SAID JUST HOW VIEWPOINTS CHANGE A LITTLE BIT.

IN YOUR EXPERIENCE BOTH IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BUT ALSO WITHIN THE JUDICIARY SYSTEM, HOW HAS THE TERM VICTIM OF SEX TRAFFICKING CHANGED SINCE 2013?

>> WELL, WHAT I'VE NOTICED AS A PROSECUTOR AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE ABOUT THE AWARENESS AND JUDICIARY ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS BILL WAS WHEN IT WAS PASSED, WHEN VICTIMS HAVE THE COURAGE AND THE STRENGTH TO GET UP ON THE STAND AND TESTIFY, IT'S VERY EMPOWERING TO THEM.

IT'S FRIGHTENING.

IT'S SCARY, AND IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO DO.

BUT WHEN YOU SEE THEM ON THE STAND TESTIFYING IN FRONT OF THEIR TRAFFICKER AND TESTIFY TO WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM AND THEN TO SEE THEIR TRAFFICKER IN CUSTODY FOR WHAT HE DID TO THE VICTIM HAS BEEN A BIG CHANGE, I THINK, IN WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> HOW ABOUT THE FLIPSIDE OF THAT, WE CAN TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS BILL BUT WE CAN TALK ABOUT OTHER BILLS THAT HAVE PASSED SINCE VICTIMS THAT POTENTIALLY DON'T WANT TO CONFRONT THEIR TRAFFICKERS ARE FRIGHTENED TO DO THAT WE HAVE PROVISIONS IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE TYPES OF VICTIMS AS WELL.

>> THERE ARE SOME PROTECTIONS FOR THAT WERE WRITTEN IN THE LAW FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 16.

THE DETECTIVES WOULD BE ABLE TO TESTIFY TO WHAT THE VICTIM TOLD THE DETECTIVE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CRIME.

WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH OF THAT PROTECTION ON THE ADULT SIDE OF THINGS BECAUSE THERE IS THE CONFRONTATION RIGHTS THAT DEFENDANTS HAVE TO FACE THEIR ACCUSERS.

BUT WE GO FORWARD WITH IT AND THE BEST THAT WE CAN AND TRY TO ENCOURAGE THE VICTIMS TO COME FORWARD AND TESTIFY.

>> SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE COURAGE INVOLVED IN VICTIMS HERE.

WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT SAME COURAGE OF GOING FORWARD AND TESTIFYING IN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION ABOUT A POTENTIAL BILL LIKE THIS.

WE DO HAVE A CLIP TO SHOW.

THIS CLIP IS FROM THE DOCUMENTARY "THE ZEN SPEAKER".

IT FEATURES AND CHRONICLES AMY AYOUB'S LIFE OFFICE WHO TESTIFIED FOR AB67.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT CLIP.

>> I HAD BEEN WORKING ON A COMPREHENSIVE BILL TO ADDRESS SEX TRAFFICKING IN THIS STATE.

I HAD BEEN GOING AROUND THE STATE TALKING ABOUT IT, TALKING TO ANYBODY WHO WAS GOING TO LISTEN, FROM THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY, THE ADVOCATES, TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTORS, YOU NAME IT.

AND AMY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT.

THERE WAS THE CALL THAT SHE SAID I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.

I SAID OKAY, SHE SAID CAN WE GO HAVE BREAKFAST.

I TOLD HER MY STORY.

SHE WAS FABULOUS, OF COURSE.

AND SAID THAT IT WAS MY STORY.

SHE WOULD NOT TELL IT BUT THAT SHE WOULD KEEP ME INFORMED OF WHAT THE OFFICE WAS DOING ON THE SUBJECT AND IF I WANTED TO PARTICIPATE I COULD.

IF I DIDN'T, IT WOULD BE FINE.

HER OFFICE CALLED AND SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO -- THE BILL WAS GOING TO COME BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE A LOT SOONER THAN THEY THOUGHT.

THEY THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE TOWARDS THE END BUT THAT THEY WANTED TO HEAR IT -- IT WAS GOING TO BE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AND WOULD I TESTIFY WITH CATHERINE.

AND I SAID I'M GOING TO SAY YES JUST TO COMMIT AND SO I SAID YES AND THEN I WAS PETRIFIED.

>> THERE'S THINGS I WISH I DIDN'T DO IN MY LIFE.

I HAVE NOT SPOKEN ABOUT THIS FOR 38 YEARS.

SO THE SHAME IS OBVIOUSLY UNSPEAKABLE.

BUT THE ONE REGRET THAT I REALLY HAVE IS NEVER GETTING TO LOOK THAT PIMP IN THE EYE AND SAY I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU ANYMORE.

AND TO HELP ANY GIRL BE ABLE TO LOOK THE PIMP IN THE EYE AND SAY THAT TO TESTIFY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE PUNISHMENT THAT'S DUE THEM.

NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME IS, ACTUALLY.

IT'S JUST TO LET THEM HAVE THAT SAY TO SUPPORT THEM IN SAYING THAT, IS THE BIGGEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE AND WILL MAKE THE BIGGEST CHANGE.

>> WONDERFUL CLIP.

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE ZEN SPEAKER IN ITS ENTIRETY VEGAS PBS IS GOING TO AIR THAT DOCUMENTARY ON THIS CHANNEL, CHANNEL 10, THAT WILL AIR ON TUESDAY JANUARY 12TH AT 10 P.M. YOU CAN ALSO STREAM THAT DOCUMENTARY AFTER JANUARY 15TH.

SAM, TO YOUR POINT THERE, SHE TALKED EXACTLY ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BEING ABLE TO FACE YOUR TRAFFICKER.

I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY VOICE AND PUBLIC VOICE AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS TO THIS CONVERSATION, MELISSA.

AMY WAS ONE OF MANY THAT TESTIFIED.

AWAKEN WAS ALSO A SUPPORTER OF THIS BILL.

CAN YOU TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT FROM THE COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT SECTOR HERE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO TESTIFY TO MOVE A BILL LIKE THIS FORWARD?

>> YEAH.

THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME I HAD EVER TESTIFIED FOR LEGISLATION.

AND JUST TO BE TRANSPARENT, I WAS NEW TO THE NONPROFIT WORLD PRIOR TO AWAKEN.

THIS WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE TO ENTER INTO WORKING WITH AN NGO IN THIS CAPACITY.

AND WHEN SENATOR MASTO APPROACHED US TO TESTIFY, I HONESTLY DIDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION AT THE TIME.

AND THEN STARTING THIS PROCESS, IT HAS DEFINITELY CHANGED THE WAY WE EVEN -- THE WAY WE ARE AS A NONPROFIT, BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THE VALUE NOT JUST FOR US BUT FOR OTHER SURVIVORS TO ALSO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD WHETHER IT BE THROUGH THEIR OWN OR THROUGH US, WHEN THEY ALLOW US TESTIMONY TO SHARE IN LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS TO TRY TO ADVOCATE FOR GOOD, HEALTHY LEGISLATION.

>> SPEAKER FRIERSON YOU WERE THE CHAIR OF THAT JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AT THAT TIME.

YOU WERE PRESENT DURING THAT TESTIMONY.

SPEAK MORE TO THAT, THE IMPACT OF TESTIMONY LIKE THAT IN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> WELL, LOOK, I WASN'T PREPARED -- I WASN'T AWARE THAT AMY WAS GOING TO -- HER EXPERIENCE LET ALONE SHE WAS GOING TO SHARE THAT EXPERIENCE, BUT AS CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE, I THINK IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO CREATE A SAFE PLACE.

AND SO I IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AMY WAS SAFE TO TELL HER STORY.

AND IT WAS VERY IMPACTFUL.

YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP IN THE ROOM.

AND I THINK IT PERSONALIZED IT IN A WAY THAT I DON'T THINK MAY HAVE HAPPENED OTHERWISE.

I THINK IT TOOK AWAY THE STIGMA.

IT TOOK AWAY I THINK STEREOTYPES.

AMY HAS BEEN AROUND -- THIS BODY KNOWS HER ADVOCACY EFFORTS FROM OTHER EFFORTS WITH RESPECT TO HER PUBLIC SPEAKING.

AND SO FOR I THINK THE BODY TO HEAR THIS IS NOT JUST THEORETICAL BUT THIS IS REAL AND YOU KNOW SOMEONE PERSONALLY WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH IT, I THINK CHANGED THE TONE OF THE CONVERSATION.

AND SO THERE WERE PROVISIONS IN THERE.

YOU ASKED EARLIER ABOUT VICTIMS COMING FORWARD.

WELL, I THINK AS A RESULT OF THAT ONE OF THE PROVISIONS THAT WAS LEFT IN THERE WAS THE PRESUMPTION THAT A DEPO WAS APPROPRIATE, A DEPOSITION IS APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY FOR THOSE VICTIMS WHO ARE COMFORTABLE COMING FORWARD PUBLICLY.

AND THESE WERE THINGS THAT MAY HAVE HAD SOME OPPOSITION BEFORE THERE WAS A PERSONAL EFFORT TO DESCRIBE WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS AND HAVE IT BE TOLD BY SOMEBODY WHO MANY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE KNEW PERSONALLY.

>> SAM, LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT ELSE HAS CHANGED SINCE THE BILL'S BEEN IN PLACE LET'S LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE NOW I THINK THE MOST OBVIOUS ASSUMPTION IS THAT A BILL LIKE THIS MIGHT CURB SEX TRAFFICKING IN A PLACE LIKE CLARK COUNTY.

DO WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT?

>> IN MY EXPERIENCE I'VE BEEN IN THIS POSITION SINCE 2016, AND THERE'S STILL A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT IS TAKING PLACE IN THIS COUNTY, UNFORTUNATELY.

I CAN'T SPEAK TO HOW MUCH OF A DETERRENT THE LAW IS, BUT I CAN SPEAK TO HOW MUCH MORE SEVERE THE PENALTIES ARE AND THE LEVERAGE THAT WE HAVE WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO RESOLVE THESE CASES OR TAKING THEM TO TRIAL.

GOING TO SPEAKER FRIERSON'S POINT, WHEN YOU HEAR A VICTIM AND WHEN A JURY HEARS A VICTIM TESTIFY TO THE HORRIFIC THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO THEM BY THEIR TRAFFICKER, YOU CAN HEAR A PIN DROP.

WHEN JUDGES HEAR THAT AT PRELIMINARY HEARINGS, YOU CAN HEAR IT.

SO WHAT I THINK HAS CHANGED IS NOT THE NUMBER OF CASES SO MUCH BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S REMAINED PRETTY MUCH THE SAME BUT THE AMOUNT OF PRISON TIME OR THE PUNISHMENT AND THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS I THINK PREVENT FUTURE TRAFFICKING FROM THESE TRAFFICKERS.

>> I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT, TOO, SAM JUST ABOUT THE LANGUAGE OF WHAT A TRAFFICKER IS.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS OPPOSITION ORIGINALLY TO THE BILL.

THERE'S BEEN OPPOSITION AND REVISIONS TO THE BILL SINCE ABOUT THE LANGUAGE OF WHAT A TRAFFICKER IS OR IS NOT.

IN YOUR WORLD, ASIDE FROM WHAT HAPPENS IN LEGISLATION, HOW DOES THE INTERPRETATION OF WHAT A TRAFFICKER IS EVOLVE OR CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS?

HAS IT.

>> I THINK WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS LAW, I MEAN, MOST OF THE TIME THEY'RE REFERRED TO AS PIMPS.

I THINK WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS LAW, I THINK IT'S MORE ACCURATE TO DEFINE THEM AS HUMAN TRAFFICKERS OR SEX TRAFFICKERS.

AND I THINK THAT HAS AN IMPACT.

I'LL READ TRANSCRIPTS OF INTERVIEWS THAT DETECTIVES HAVE WITH SUSPECTS WITH TRAFFICKERS AND WHEN THEY TELL THEM WHAT THE CHARGES ARE, THAT THEY'RE ARRESTED FOR, WHEN THEY SAY SEX TRAFFICKING, YOU CAN SEE ON THE TRANSCRIPT OR YOU CAN HEAR ON THE AUDIO JUST THEIR FEAR THAT THEY'RE BEING CHARGED WITH SUCH A CRIME.

AND I THINK IT REALLY HITS HOME.

>> MELISSA WANTED TO COME TO YOU TOO AND LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHANGES IN VICTIM ADVOCACY OR VICTIM SERVICES HERE.

SEEMS LIKE THE THEME WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT HERE IS VICTIMS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD.

MAYBE YOU COULD SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO ARE YOU SEEING A CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS THAT ARE SEEKING SERVICES THAT AWAKEN PROVIDES?

>> YEAH.

EACH YEAR WE SEE AN INCREASE IN VICTIMS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR SERVICES.

IN 2020 WE HAD OUR HIGHEST NUMBERS YET.

IT WAS 173 VICTIMS JUST IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT AWAKEN WAS ABLE TO OFFER SERVICES AND HELP TO.

IN MY OPINION, AND ACCORDING TO RESEARCH, THE DATA IS GOING TO SHOW KIND OF WHAT YOUR QUESTION TO SAM WAS IN TERMS OF THE RATES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OUR STATE.

THE TWO COMPONENTS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO ADDRESS AND CURB THE ISSUE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING ANYWHERE ARE GOING TO BE, ONE, YOU CANNOT HAVE A LEGALIZED SEX TRADE IF YOU WANT TO REDUCE HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE A SEX TOURISM STATE.

WE'RE NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION IN THE SEX TRADES THE RATES OF A SEX TRADE.

WE'RE 63% HIGHER THAN THE NEXT HIGHEST STATE.

IT'S ASTRONOMICAL AND INEXCUSABLE.

THE REASON THE REFERENCE TO AB67 IS GROUNDBREAKING IS BECAUSE IT WAS JUST A BEGINNING.

WE ARE NOW 50 YEARS INTO A LEGAL SEX TRADE IN OUR STATE.

AND THE NUMBERS AND THE DATA PROVE IT TO BE HARMFUL.

IT'S INCREDIBLY HARMFUL TO WOMEN.

IT'S HARMFUL TO MEN.

SO THE SECOND THING YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS IS YOU ALSO HAVE TO GO AFTER THE OTHER PRONG OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING WHICH IS THE BUYER.

SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO ARREST TRAFFICKERS DAY IN, DAY OUT, BUT UNTIL THE PENALTIES INCREASE TOWARDS BUYERS, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO COME TO OUR STATE TO COMMODIFY WOMEN FOR THE PURCHASE OF SEX AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE DAY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO ALL THE VICTIMS WE WORK WITH, THEY KNOW THAT.

BUYERS ARE THERE FOR ONE THING, TO HAVE THEIR FANTASY FULFILLED.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING THEY'RE PAYING FOR.

THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN FIGURING OUT IF THIS PERSON IS A VICTIM OR NOT.

SO IT'S INDISTINGUISHABLE TO A BUYER.

THEY SIMPLY WANT THEIR FANTASY FULFILLED.

>> AND SPEAKER FRIERSON I'M GOING TO PUT ON YOU THE SPOT HERE A LITTLE BIT.

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT THE CHAIR OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, BUT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IN AB67 ORIGINALLY IS LOOKING AT BUYERS POTENTIALLY PUTTING PENALTIES SIMILAR TO TRAFFICKERS WITHIN THAT BILL.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED?

ARE YOU SEEING HAS COME UP AT ALL IN POTENTIAL FUTURE LEGISLATION WE COULD SEE?

>> I THINK THAT IT HAS TO BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION FROM A JUDICIARY PERSPECTIVE I THINK THAT THE COMMITTEE IS ALWAYS AWARE OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SPECIFIC INTENT CRIMES AND GENERAL INTENT CRIMES.

WHEN YOU HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, STATUTORY SEXUAL ASSAULT THAT'S A GENERAL INTENT YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW THAT THE VICTIM IS UNDERAGED FOR YOU TO BE LIABLE AND CULPABLE CRIMINALLY.

I THINK THAT 2013 STARTED A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT VERY THING, ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S KNOWLEDGE AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT MATTERS.

I DO THINK THAT IN A STATE WHERE THE SEX TRADE IS LAWFUL IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE, IT CERTAINLY MAKES IT COMPLICATED.

AND I THINK THERE WERE LEGISLATORS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY OR DID NOT THEN NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THAT THE TRADE AND THAT THE PRACTICE OF TRAFFICKING HAS IN THE STATE AND ON VICTIMS THAT I AM HOPEFUL IS INCREASINGLY EDUCATED TO MEMBERS SO THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT BY IT.

IT'S A BROAD CONVERSATION THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE.

AGAIN I THINK AMY AYOUB'S PERSONAL STORY WAS IMPACTFUL AND HELPFUL IN DELIVERING THAT STORY IN A WAY THAT FOLKS WERE NOT CAUGHT IN THEIR OWN STEREOTYPES ABOUT WHO GETS CAUGHT UP IN THIS ACTIVITY.

SO I THINK WE DO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT TO WHAT EXTENT THIS IS SIMILAR TO STATUTORY SEX IN DEALING WITH UNDERAGED VICTIMS AND TO WHAT EXTENT YOU NEED TO KNOW OR MAYBE YOU SHOULD JUST BE AWARE THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO PAY FOR SEX, THAT THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THE PERSON WHO YOU ARE ENGAGING WITH IS A VICTIM AND IS NOT THERE BY THEIR OWN CHOICE.

WE DID INCLUDE SOME PROVISIONS IN AB67 THAT I BELIEVE TRY TO DEAL WITH THE SEX TRADE AND DEAL WITH THE FOLKS THAT MAYBE APPEAR TO BE VOLUNTARILY ENGAGING IN IT BUT LIKELY ARE NOT.

AND I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

I DO BELIEVE THAT AB67 WAS A HUGE, HUGE STEP, BEYOND THE PENALTIES AS FAR AS CRIMINAL CULPABILITY.

I MEAN, WE'RE NOT TALKING JUST ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT SOMEBODY HAS GENERATED BASED ON VICTIMIZING, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING THAT VICTIM WHOLE.

THERE ARE PROVISIONS IN AB67 THAT MAKE IT CLEAR, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE CONVICTED OF TRAFFICKING, YOU MAY BE ON THE HOOK FOR MAKING SURE THAT VICTIM IS MADE WHOLE WITH RESPECT TO WHERE THEY LIVE.

IF THEY'RE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY, BEING ABLE TO GET THEM BACK HOME.

>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT ON THIS.

I WANTED YOUR TAKE ON THIS LET'S GO BACK TO POTENTIALLY BEING ABLE TO CHARGE, CONVICT USERS AT THE SAME LEVEL AS TRAFFICKERS OR POTENTIALLY JUST THAT BEING PART OF WHAT THE PROSECUTORS ARE DOING IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

CAPACITY TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

JUDICIARY SYSTEM, DO YOU SEE ANY PROBLEMS OR HANGUPS THERE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S SIMPLE ECONOMICS.

IF YOU GET RID OF THE DEMAND, THEN THE SUPPLY IS GOING TO GO AWAY.

AND IF THERE'S A DETERRENT FOR SEX BUYERS WHERE IT BECOMES A FELONY, I THINK THAT WILL BE A REAL DETERRENT.

I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME PUSHBACK FROM DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT I HONESTLY THINK THAT IF YOU GET RID OF THE DEMAND THEN THE SUPPLY IS GOING TO GO AWAY AND I THINK TRAFFICKING WOULD GO WAY DOWN.

>> WELL, SAM, MELISSA, SPEAKER FRIERSON THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK ON "NEVADA WEEK."

NOW, IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS POTENTIALLY A VICTIM OF SEX TRAFFICKING, PLEASE CALL OUR STATE HOTLINE AT 1-888-373-7888 YOU CAN ALSO TEXT THAT HOTLINE.

ALSO IF YOU'D LIKE TO WATCH THE ENTIRE DOCUMENTARY WE FEATURED ON THIS SHOW, "THE ZEN SPEAKER", VEGAS PBS IS AIRING IT ON THIS CHANNEL ON TUESDAY JANUARY 12TH AT 10:00 P.M.

IT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO STREAM ON THE PBS VIDEO APP AND AT VIDEO.VEGASPBS.org ON FRIDAY JANUARY 15TH.

THANKS AGAIN.

APPRECIATE IT.