When a Texas resident is facing a sex crime, they can feel like everyone is against them. Sex crimes in Texas are aggressively prosecuted and there are many ways in which legislators are increasing punishments for sex crimes. A recent bill was passed and signed into law by the Governor making paying for sex a felony.
Increasing penalties for sex crimes
The Texas Legislature and Governor Abbott recently passed a signed a bill into law that makes paying for sex a felony. This law makes Texas the first state to make buying sex a felony. HB 1540 creates a separate offense for buying sex and raises the penalty to a felony with jail time. The bill is a human trafficking bill aimed at reducing the demand for commercial sex. In addition to making paying for sex a felony it also expands first degree felony charges to those who obtain trafficking victims from shelters or certain residential facilities. It also has provisions regarding massage parlors and civil racketeering.
Sex crimes attorney
Texas is second in the nation in human trafficking. Although this is an alarming statistic, not all actions related to sex should be punishable. If a person is facing a sex crime in Texas, they will need an attorney who is well-versed in sex crimes. An attorney can help their client tell their side of the story and protect their legal rights. They know what their client is facing both in potential punishments and in regard to their future and will fight to defend them with the goal of an acquittal.
Human trafficking is a problem in the United States. But it is important for those who are facing a sex crime to know that they still have legal rights, and it is not an automatic conviction. Having an attorney on their side fighting for their future is important.