Executive Summary
- Susan G. Esserman, CEO of the UMD SAFE Center, identifies trafficking as a serious ongoing issue in Maryland.
- The 2023 Safe Harbor Act legally reclassified minors in commercial sex as victims rather than offenders.
- The University of Maryland SAFE Center continues to advocate for survivor support and public awareness.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Labor and sex trafficking remain a critical public safety concern in Maryland, according to Susan G. Esserman, the founder and CEO of the University of Maryland SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors. In a statement addressing the current landscape of exploitation in the region, Esserman emphasized that despite legislative progress, the threat to vulnerable populations persists.
Esserman’s warning comes as the state continues to implement the provisions of the Safe Harbor Act, a significant piece of legislation passed in 2023. According to the CEO, the Act fundamentally shifted the legal framework regarding minors involved in commercial sex. Under the statute, children who have engaged in commercial sex acts are legally recognized as victims of trafficking rather than juvenile offenders, ensuring they receive support services instead of facing criminal prosecution.
Legislative Impact Analysis
The continued emphasis on trafficking by the SAFE Center highlights the complex challenge of enforcing human rights protections three years after the passage of the Safe Harbor Act. While the 2023 legislation provided a necessary legal shield for minors, classifying them as victims rather than criminals, Esserman’s comments suggest that the operational reality of combating trafficking networks remains arduous. For state officials and law enforcement, the focus likely remains on dismantling the organized criminal elements facilitating these operations while ensuring that the support infrastructure for survivors keeps pace with identification efforts.
