NEWS RELEASE | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | PDF
For interviews or data, contact:
Ariela Moscowitz, director of communications
[email protected] | (212) 368-7874
New York Enshrines Protections for Survivors of Trafficking and Sex Workers
New York, NY (December 23, 2025) — Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) applauds New York’s enactment of A1029‑B/S3967‑B, landmark legislation signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul that allows trafficking survivors and sex workers to come forward as victims or witnesses to crime without fear of arrest or prosecution.
The bill passed unanimously in both the state Assembly and Senate with bipartisan support, following years of advocacy by a broad coalition of survivors, sex worker‑led organizations, anti‑trafficking groups, civil rights advocates and public safety experts.
The new law provides conditional immunity from prosecution for prostitution‑related offenses when someone is a victim of or witness to a crime and seeks help, including medical care, or otherwise acts in good faith. Previously, fear of prosecution kept many survivors and sex workers from reporting crimes, even serious violence and exploitation.
The protections are modeled in part on New York’s existing “Good Samaritan” law that shields people who seek emergency help during an overdose from prosecution, and are intended to encourage reporting in situations where people have historically stayed silent out of fear of arrest.
“This law recognizes that safety must be prioritized over punishment,” said DSW Legal Director Melissa Broudo. “The immunity bill removes fear of arrest for survivors, creating safe pathways to seek help and access support. It is a vital and common sense public safety measure that strengthens law enforcement’s ability to identify, investigate, and convict perpetrators of violence and trafficking.”
An immunity law like this could have helped surface essential information sooner in investigations such as the Gilgo Beach serial killer case, where criminalization discouraged potential witnesses from reporting what they knew. Safe reporting laws meaningfully protect victims and witnesses of violence and they ultimately benefit all communities by allowing law enforcement to better detect criminal activity.
This law is a long overdue public safety measure and New York joins eleven other states with similar laws. DSW is committed to expanding this model in other states and continuing to advocate for the decriminalization of consensual adult sex work and the implementation of survivor-informed, harm-reduction policies nationwide.
Decriminalize Sex Work
Decriminalize Sex Work is a national organization pursuing a state-by-state strategy to end the prohibition of consensual, adult prostitution in the United States. We work with local organizations, advocates, and lobbyists to build community support and convince legislators to stop prostitution-related arrests. Evidence shows that decriminalizing sex work will help end human trafficking, improve public health, and promote community safety.