Legislative Timeline
The Safe Harbor Law, passed in 2011, includes five key changes – three were effective immediately in 2011 while two additional changes will be effective in 2014. In 2011, Minnesota:
- Added the definition of sexually exploited youth in Minnesota’s child protection codes
- Increased the penalties against commercial sex abusers or purchasers
- Directed the Commissioner of Public Safety to work with stakeholders to create a victim-centered, statewide response for sexually exploited youth.
Effective August 1, 2014:
- Excluded sexually exploited youth under 18 from the definition of delinquent child. This resolves the conflict that defines in law a sexually exploited youth as both a victim and delinquent. If youth engage in conduct that relates to being hired, offering to be hired or agreeing to be hired by another individual to engage in sexual conduct, they cannot be charged with a crime for this act.
- State began implementing service model called No Wrong Door – making available resources and services for sexually exploited youth including regional navigators, housing and shelter, comprehensive services, and training and protocol development.
Effective July 1, 2016:
- Safe Harbor services were made available to individuals 24 and younger, increasing the prior eligibility age for services from 18.
No Wrong Door
No Wrong Door is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and multi-state agency approach. It ensures communities across Minnesota have the knowledge, skills and resources to effectively identify sexually exploited and at-risk youth. Youth are provided with victim-centered trauma-informed services and safe housing. To learn more about the network being implemented in Minnesota to support victims, see Regional Navigators, Housing, and Protocol Development and Training.
If you or someone you know is being sexual exploited or trafficked, please contact your Regional Navigator or contact the Day One Hotline to learn more about services available in your community at 1-866-223-1111.
For more information on Safe Harbor, contact Caroline Palmer, Safe Harbor Director, at Caroline.Palmer@state.mn.us or 651-201-5492.
Questions?
Contact the Safe Harbor Program at health.safeharbor@state.mn.us.
Link to Safe Harbor Regional Navigators
Link to Minnesota Department of Health Safe Harbor Info
Link to Safe Harbor Informational Handout