By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer
COLUMBIA, SC — Earlier this year, Sheriff Thompson and Capt. Sherri Smith met with Rep. Jeff Johnson to show support for Senate Bill 235 – legislation designed to strengthen protections for victims of human trafficking and coercion. The measure was formally signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster on Wednesday.
The new law strengthens statewide protections by ensuring victims of human trafficking and coercion are not prosecuted for prostitution‑related offenses, shifting accountability toward those who facilitate or profit from the crime. It also bars the prosecution of minors for prostitution and creates a path for eligible victims who were forced into the sex trade to have their records expunged, offering a measure of relief and recovery for individuals who were exploited.
As members of the Coastal Region Human Trafficking Task Force, Thompson and Smith called the bill a major step forward in raising awareness and safeguarding vulnerable citizens from further harm.
© 2026 CoastalCarolinaNews.com | Jones Media Partners LLC. All rights reserved.
Be the first to comment