NYC Bar Association Supports Bill Protecting Trafficking Victims

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Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash

Following a successful career in communications and pharmaceutical sales, Amy Goldenberg of Closter, NJ, returned to school and earned a JD. Amy Goldenberg is a practicing attorney in New York City and an active member of the New York City Bar Association (NYCBA).

In June 2019, the NYCBA appealed to lawmakers to pass a bill that would protect individuals from facing convictions for crimes committed while being trafficked. Trafficking victims, especially those without legal status, are often forced to commit crimes such as drug smuggling and theft.

A conviction can make getting a job or adjusting immigration status difficult. As a result, former and current trafficking victims are susceptible to deportation and further victimization. 

If the bill passes, any convictions related to trafficking would be expunged from the victim’s record. The bill is sponsored by state lawmakers Richard Gottfried and Jessica Ramos.