• Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
WZMQ 19 News | CBS | MeTV Marquette
Haze

Marquette
Haze 66°

Mostly Clear

Escanaba
Mostly Clear 54°

Mostly Cloudy

Houghton
Mostly Cloudy 54°

Partly Cloudy

Iron Mountain
Partly Cloudy 57°

Watch
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
WZMQ 19 News | CBS | MeTV Marquette
No Result
View All Result
WZMQ 19 News | CBS | MeTV Marquette
No Result
View All Result

Governor signs laws to protect victims of human trafficking

by Sophia Murphy
January 17, 2025
A A

LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – New Michigan laws aim to protect survivors of human trafficking and ensure their traffickers see a day in court. The law passed and was signed by the governor before the end of last year’s lame-duck session.

Cases of human trafficking have been on the rise nationwide, The Bureau of Justice Statistics says the number of people prosecuted more than doubled from 2012 to 2022.

In December, Michigan’s legislature passed three bills now signed by the governor. The legislation will allow victims of human trafficking to testify against their traffickers without fear of prosecuting themselves. Senator Sue Shink (D – Northfield Township) is an author on one of the bills.

“These bills make it easier for prosecutors to get the evidence that they need to put those traffickers behind bars,” Shink said. “A lot of times the victims suffer for many years afterward and the traffickers have gone free because the victims have been scared and it’s not ok.”

The former president of the Upper Peninsula Human Trafficking Task Force, Stephanie Graef said it’s the first new legislation in the state surrounding human trafficking in a decade.

Graef explained that in many cases, traffickers walk free because their victims are too scared to face them or are worried they’ll end up in trouble for crimes they may have committed under duress. 

The number of people convicted of a human trafficking offense increased from 578 to 1,118 from 2012 to 2022. Graef said there are even more cases that go unreported, and making the victims feel safe is a key part of making sure traffickers see their day in court. 

“These victims are not the ones on the stand and are not the criminals, The traffickers are, and we shouldn’t make it so difficult for these victims to be able to state their testimony,” Graef said. “Everybody coming to the table for their part is key to this eventual decrease in human trafficking and justice for the victims that have been so wrongly treated and oftentimes not believed.”

The governor signed the legislation back in December with a 90-day grace period, the new laws will take effect in March.

Get WZMQ 19 anytime, anywhere

Download the app

AppleAndroid

Watch on TV

RokuFire TVZeam

Connect on social media

FacebookTwitterInstagram

More

Every year, the residents of Brookridge Heights take part in a point five K run/walk to benefit the Alzheimer's Association. It's a precursor to the walk to end Alzheimer's, which takes place in September.
News

A short walk with a big heart

June 5, 2025
News

Insights: Summer readings at the Peter White Public Library

June 5, 2025
SUPERIOR ON TAP IS A LECTURE SERIES HOSTED BY CITIZENS FOR A SAFE AND CLEAN LAKE SUPERIOR. TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION WAS ABOUT THE EFFECTS TOURISM HAS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
News

Does the U.P. have too many tourists?

June 5, 2025
News

Three injured in two-vehicle crash in Manistique

June 5, 2025
News

Creature Feature: Crested Gecko

June 5, 2025
News

Rapid River Farmers Market season in full swing

June 5, 2025
Next Post
As we see the destructive power of wildfires in California, forestry experts say a controlled, intentional fire can actually be beneficial when it comes to keeping our forests safe and healthy. we spoke to those experts who explained why controlled burns are good for everyone.

How fire helps the forest

Michigan Tech tripped up by Minnesota State

  • Home
  • News
  • Weather
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Events
  • Programming
  • Station
WZMQ CBS | 19 News

© 2025 WZMQ, LLC | FCC Public File | EEO Report

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
  • Events
  • Programming
    • Programming Guide
    • CBS
    • MeTV
    • Start TV
    • Heroes & Icons
    • Court TV
    • ION
  • Station
    • About Us
    • Community Involvement
    • Mobile App
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Advertising
    • Request Copy of Story
    • FCC Public File
    • EEO Report
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
  • Events
  • Programming
    • Programming Guide
    • CBS
    • MeTV
    • Start TV
    • Heroes & Icons
    • Court TV
    • ION
  • Station
    • About Us
    • Community Involvement
    • Mobile App
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Advertising
    • Request Copy of Story
    • FCC Public File
    • EEO Report
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our privacy policy.
Go to mobile version