Pennsylvania State Resources

This report includes Pennsylvania’s most recent Report Card, Safe Harbor Scorecard, Analysis Report, and links to further resources.

Download Pennsylvania's 2023 Report

The Project

Since 2011, Shared Hope has laid the foundation for policy, practice, and cultural transformation by supporting state legislators and stakeholders to enact the minimum fabric of laws needed to address child sex trafficking. The Report Cards on Child & Youth Sex Trafficking build upon the last decade of progress, challenging states to take the next step in the fight against sex trafficking by focusing on the area where the largest gaps remain—victim protections. Pennsylvania’s grades are based solely on an analysis of state statutes. While non-legislative responses to are critical to progress, grading on statutory law provides a clear mechanism for evaluating policy goals across all states while ensuring that survivor-centered reforms are an enduring part of states’ responses.

Pennsylvania Report Card Issue Summaries

Pennsylvania Criminal Provisions

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to buyer accountability under the trafficking law, buyer and trafficker accountability under state CSEC laws, decoy defenses, business entity liability under the trafficking law, and financial penalties. Gap remains related to mistake of age defenses.

Pennsylvania Identification of and Response to Victims

Policy goal accomplished related to child abuse definitions. Gaps remain in areas related to third party control, foreign national victims, screening through child welfare and the juvenile justice system, non-criminalization for prostitution offenses, expanded non-criminalization, juvenile court jurisdiction, and non-familial trafficking cases.

Pennsylvania Continuum of Care

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to services through child welfare and the juvenile justice system. Gaps remain in areas related to community-based services, MDT responses, extended foster care services, and appropriations.

Access to Justice for Trafficking survivors in Pennsylvania

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to restitution and civil remedies. Gaps remain in areas related to civil orders of protection, crime victims’ compensation, vacatur, and statutes of limitation.

Tools for a Victim-Centered Criminal Justice response in Pennsylvania

Policy goals accomplished in areas related to alternatives to live, in-court testimony, victim supports, and privileged communications. Gap remains related to hearsay exceptions.

Prevention and Training in Pennsylvania

Gaps remain in all areas, including training for child welfare, juvenile justice agencies, law enforcement, prosecutors, and school personnel as well as prevention education in schools.

Supporting Youth (18+) in Pennsylvania

Protections related to civil remedies and privileged communications are extended to sex trafficked youth.

Laws regarding Child Labor Trafficking in Pennsylvania

Protections related to child abuse definitions, restitution, civil remedies, alternatives to live, in-court testimony, and privileged communications are extended to child labor trafficking victims.

Pennsylvania Download Library

Previous Report Cards

2022: Report Card | Law Analysis
2021: Report Card | Law Analysis

Protected Innocence Challenge

State Ratings under the Protected Innocence Challenge (previous framework 2011-2019) can be found here.

Download the Full Report

This report provides detailed information on this year’s state grades and an overview of the Report Cards project, generally. The toolkit is intended to be used in conjunction with your State Report to compile a customized analysis for your state and your key issues.

Download the Full Toolkit (20MB)

Legislative Technical Assistance

For legislators and partner non-profits that assist elected officials in creating legislation, request a consultation with our Policy Team. We will set up a meeting to discuss your legislative goals and create a customized goal for ongoing technical assistance, bill drafting services, and legislative support.

Request Assistance