# Division 19. Human Sex Trafficking and Human Labor Trafficking

Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.

## Division 19. Human Sex Trafficking and Human Labor Trafficking

### Sec. 14-191. Definitions

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 14-191 (2026)

(a) As used in this Division:

  (1) Coercion shall mean:

    (A) Using or threatening to use physical force against an individual;

    (B) Restraining, abducting, isolating, or confining an individual against the individual's will and without lawful authority;

    (C) Threatening to restrain, abduct, isolate, or confine an individual against the individual's will and without lawful authority;

    (D) Controlling or directing the activity of an individual through debt bondage;

    (E) Destroying, concealing, removing, confiscating, withholding, or possessing an actual or purported passport, immigration document, or governmental identification document of an individual;

    (F) Causing or threatening to cause psychological harm to an individual;

    (G) Controlling or threatening to control an individual's access to a controlled dangerous substance;

    (H) Exposing or disseminating or threatening to expose or disseminate any fact or information that would tend to subject an individual to criminal or immigration proceedings;

    (I) Threatening to notify an agency or unit of the State or Federal Government that an individual is present in the United States in violation of Federal Immigration Law;

    (J) Exploiting an individual's physical impairment, developmental disability, intellectual disability, or mental disorder; or

    (K) Using a plan, pattern, or scheme with intent to:

      (i) Cause an individual to believe that failure to perform an act will result in the use of force, restraint, abduction, isolation, or confinement;

      (ii) Cause psychological harm to a person; or

      (iii) Engage in any activity described in subsection (A) through (K) of this subsection.

  (2) Controlled Dangerous Substance shall mean the definition in Section 14-164(a) of the County Code.

  (3) Debt Bondage shall mean the status or condition of an individual who provides labor, services, or sex acts to pay a real or alleged debt, where:

    (A) The value of the labor, services, or sex act is not applied toward the liquidation of the debt;

    (B) The nature of the labor, services, or sex act is not limited or defined; or

    (C) The amount of the debt does not reasonably reflect the value of items, services, or other things of value for which the debt was incurred.

  (4) Developmental Disability shall mean a severe chronic disability of an individual that:

    (A) Is attributable to a physical or mental impairment, other than the sole diagnosis of mental illness, or to a combination of mental and physical impairments;

    (B) Is manifested before the individual attains the age of 22;

    (C) Is likely to continue indefinitely;

    (D) Results in an inability to live independently without external support or continuing and regular assistance; and

    (E) Reflects the need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment, or other services that are individually planned and coordinated for the individual.

  (5) Human Sex Trafficking shall mean:

    (A) knowingly:

      (i) Taking or causing another to be taken to any place for prostitution;

      (ii) Placing, causing to be placed, or harboring another in any place for prostitution;

      (iii) Persuading, inducing, enticing, or encouraging another to be taken to or placed in any place for prostitution;

      (iv) Receiving consideration to procure for or place in a house of prostitution or elsewhere another with the intent of causing the other to engage in prostitution or assignation;

      (v) Engaging in a device, scheme, or continuing course of conduct intended to cause another to believe that if the other did not take part in a sexually explicit performance, the other or a third person would suffer physical restraint or serious physical harm; or

      (vi) Destroying, concealing, removing, confiscating, or possessing an actual or purported passport, immigration document, or government identification document of another while otherwise violating or attempting to violate this subsection.

    (B) A parent, guardian, or person who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of another consenting to the taking or detention of the other for exchange of commercial sex of a minor for money.

    (C) knowingly taking or detaining another with the intent to use force, threat, coercion, or fraud to compel the other to marry the person or a third person or perform a sexual act, sexual contact, or vaginal or rectal intercourse.

  (6) Intellectual Disability shall mean a developmental disability that is evidenced by significant below average intellectual functioning and impairment in the adaptive behavior of an individual.

  (7) Human Labor Trafficking shall mean:

    (A) knowingly:

      (i) Taking, placing, harboring, persuading, inducing, or enticing another by force, fraud, or coercion to provide services or labor; or

      (ii) Receiving a benefit or thing of value from the provision of services or labor by another that was induced by force, fraud, or coercion.

  (8) Mental Disorder shall mean a behavioral or emotional illness that results from a psychiatric disorder. It includes a mental illness that so substantially impairs the mental or emotional functioning of an individual as to make care or treatment necessary or advisable for the welfare of the individual or for the safety of the person or property of another. It does not include an intellectual disability.

### Sec. 14-192. Prohibited Conduct

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 14-192 (2026)

(a) A person shall not engage in human sex trafficking.

(b) A person shall not engage in human labor trafficking.

### Sec. 14-193. Penalties

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 14-193 (2026)

(a) A person who violates Section 14-192 is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 6 months and a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).

(b) A person who knowingly benefits financially or by receiving anything of value from participation in a venture that includes an act described in subsection (a) of this section is subject to the same penalties that would apply if the person had violated that subsection.

(c) A person who knowingly aids, abets, or conspires with one or more other persons to violate subsection (a) or (b) of this section is subject to the same penalties that apply for a violation of that subsection.

(d) It is not a defense to a prosecution under this section that the person did not know the age of the victim.

### Sec. 14-194. Assessment of Victim Protection Needs

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 14-194 (2026)

The Office of Human Rights, through the Prince George's County Human Trafficking Task Force, shall no later than one year from the effective date of this statute create, distribute, and analyze the data resulting from a universal survey that produces a report outlining how existing entities capture the number of trafficking complaints, suspected trafficking cases, and how existing laws and regulations address the needs of trafficking victims. This report should suggest improvement and modification. The report should also outline how existing programs respond or fail to respond to the needs of trafficking victims and the interplay of such existing programs with county-funded service programs. The final report shall be delivered to the County Council and County Executive no later than March 15, 2021.