Despite a growing tally of law enforcement investigations, no one has ever been convicted under Montana’s human trafficking statute.
A bill proposed to state lawmakers on Wednesday would theoretically give prosecutors a better chance to secure those convictions, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen told the House Judiciary Committee. Knudsen, former Republican Speaker of House, said the measure is one of his top legislative priorities this session.
“We really haven’t attacked the demand side of what is ultimately an economic problem,” Knudsen said. “These traffickers would not be in Montana trying to do business if there were not a demand for human trafficking victims.”