Buckeye Reporter

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost testified before the House Criminal Justice Committee in support of legislation expanding the expungement eligibility for human trafficking survivors. Yost stated, “Once the nightmare of human trafficking is over, many individuals begin another battle – putting their lives back together and starting over.”

House Bill 385, sponsored by Reps. Tracy Richardson and Josh Williams, aims to remove the predicate requirement for expungement of certain felonies and misdemeanors for trafficking survivors. Yost highlighted the limitations of the current law, stating, “The statute also ignores the modernization of traffickers, who increasingly use the internet and cellphones to commit their crimes.”

During the hearing, trafficking survivors, including Natasha Cooper, shared their experiences and the importance of expungement for rebuilding their lives. Cooper emphasized, “If I had my record expunged, this would help me move forward in life in so many ways.”

Yost also backed Senate Bill 214, the companion legislation in the Ohio Senate, which has passed out of the chamber.

In addition to his testimony, Yost announced the release of a new guide, "Human Trafficking 101: Best Practices Guide to Raising Awareness in Your Community," developed by the Public Awareness Subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Commission. Yost stated, “Human trafficking is happening in Ohio, and traffickers thrive when communities are in the dark about how to handle it.”

The guide, available on the AG’s website, covers essential topics, dispels myths, provides credible resources, and offers training checklists. It emphasizes involving survivors in community discussions for their unique insights.

Yost established the Human Trafficking Initiative in 2019 to raise awareness, empower Ohioans, strengthen victim services, and ensure justice for traffickers. The fifth annual Human Trafficking Summit, organized by the initiative, is set for August 7 in Columbus.

For media inquiries, contact Kelly May at 614-813-7419.