Elizabeth and JanieBelle,

Here's the information I tried to send yesterday.

In Illinois new anti-trafficking legislation was signed into law which: 

• Defines trafficking crimes so local law enforcement officials can identify victims and respond.
• Makes it easier for law enforcement and social services to partner to help victims.
• Enhances prosecutorial tools by ensuring punishment is commensurate with the crime.

The pdf version of HB 1469, which can be found here, does not appear to contain the same restrictive measures against massage parlors and escort services or advertising for these services that the New York chapter of NOW was recommending. The anti-trafficking bill is part of a larger initiative in Illinois called Rescue and Restore which has the following goals:

1. Reach out to potential victims with hotline information.
2. Educate potential first-responders about trafficking.
3. Collect data on the issue.
4. Prosecute offenders.
5. Coordinate services for victims.

From what I have seen of the training materials for law enforcement, the dignity of the victims is a primary concern. My recent post at Figleaf's blog, Activism that does not hurt sex workers, describes another Illinois law, the Predator Accountability Act, which allows sex workers, both adults and children, to use the civil courts to obtain monetary damages from those that exploited them. Only a few other states have similar legislation.

I remember that you were also interested information for teens who were involved in sex work. In the same post referenced above, I included a link to the site called the Young Women's Empowerment Project, an organization that provides non-judgmental harm reduction for young women involved in the sex trade.

Also, if you follow the links to the site for the Chicago Foundation for Women, which is a leading player in the anti-trafficking initiative, there is a discussion on the legal treatment of minors that are U.S. citizens and those that are foreign born, another question you raised. The U.S. minor forced into the sex trade has legal protection until the age of 18, but could face criminal prosecution after attaining the age of 18. The foreign born minor receives temporary citizenship that would not automatically expire at age 18.

Hope this helps.

Kochanie