Tennessee Ranked Highly For Efforts To Curb Sex Trafficking

Circuit Court Judge Caroline Knight said she is glad to see state leaders prioritize putting an end to sex trafficking.

The state’s efforts once again ranked as the best in the nation by a leading organization called Shared Hope International. Knight said as a judge, she has seen firsthand how increased funding and additional support to victims has helped the Upper Cumberland.

“If you look at the evolution of the law, the general assembly has been working for a period of about 10 years to first of all find this crime, and then increase the penalties for this crime,” Knight said.

Knight said the enhanced penalties and sentencing has made prosecuting the crime easier. Knight said there is room to grow though as sex trafficking still happens in the Upper Cumberland.

Knight said legislators have also extended the statute of limitations for sex trafficking. Knight said the law today allows minors that have been trafficked to still report the crime after their 18th birthday.