Boston, January 30, 2026
Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll have launched a five-year plan to address sex trafficking in Massachusetts. Developed by the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Human Trafficking, the initiative outlines six core focus areas aimed at empowering survivors and ensuring justice. The framework is built around a collaborative approach, integrating insights from various stakeholders, including those with lived experience. This strategic roadmap signifies a commitment to safeguarding vulnerable communities and enhancing support systems for trafficking survivors.
Boston – On January 29, 2026, the administration of Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll unveiled a comprehensive five-year statewide plan to address sex trafficking across Massachusetts. This initiative, developed by the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Human Trafficking, establishes a strategic roadmap designed to foster healing, recovery, and accountability for those affected by this profound exploitation.
A Framework for Collective Action
The newly released plan is structured around six core recommendation areas, each with distinct outcomes and actionable steps: Leadership, Empowerment, Justice, Collaboration, Prevention, and Measurement. These areas collectively aim to enhance the state’s capacity and expertise in addressing sex trafficking, expand vital support services for survivors, ensure justice for those harmed, build sustainable structures for coordinated anti-sex trafficking efforts, prioritize multi-level prevention strategies, and develop robust outcome measurement systems and data sharing opportunities. Each outcome is driven by actionable steps intended to advance a framework for healing, recovery, and accountability over the five-year period.
The development of this plan was the result of a collaborative endeavor, spearheaded by the Sex Trafficking Branch of the Human Trafficking Subcommittee (HTS) of the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Human Trafficking (GCSADVT). It incorporated diverse perspectives, including input gathered through surveys, interviews, and focus groups comprising both professionals in the field and individuals with lived experience. This survivor- and data-driven approach underscores a commitment to understanding the complexities of sex trafficking from those most intimately acquainted with its realities.
A Persistent Commitment to Safeguarding the Vulnerable
The issue of human trafficking remains a somber reality within Massachusetts communities, echoing a broader global concern that touches urban, suburban, and rural areas alike. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, who chairs the Governor’s Council, has consistently underscored the urgency inherent in this work, often reflecting upon the poignant stories of survivors and the collective input that shaped the plan’s thoughtful recommendations.
This comprehensive statewide effort builds upon the enduring commitments of Governor Healey and her administration to confront exploitation and support the most vulnerable residents of the Commonwealth. In her proposed FY27 budget, Governor Healey included vital measures aimed at bolstering justice for survivors of sexual assault. These provisions seek to clarify that Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits (SAECKs) must be stored for a minimum of 15 years and to eliminate the statute of limitations in rape cases when a DNA match has been identified, thereby allowing for prosecution beyond previous time constraints.
Beyond budgetary proposals, Governor Healey has also signed several significant pieces of legislation designed to safeguard and support survivors. These include expanded protections for victims of sexual assault by healthcare providers, strengthening violence prevention efforts, and banning revenge porn, which collectively prevent abuse and exploitation. These actions, taken together, illustrate a persistent dedication to cultivating a society where the dignity of every individual is protected, and those who suffer from such egregious harms find both justice and a path toward recovery.
The plan offers a clear roadmap for Massachusetts, presenting actionable steps to prevent sex trafficking across the state, to improve the lives of survivors, and to ensure that exploiters and buyers are held accountable for their actions. It represents an important step toward confronting and ultimately ending the exploitation of human beings in Massachusetts, fostering an environment where safety and healing can truly take root.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the new plan released by Governor Healey’s administration?
The Healey-Driscoll administration released a five-year statewide plan to address sex trafficking across Massachusetts on January 29, 2026.
Who developed this plan?
The plan was developed by the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Human Trafficking (GCSADVT), specifically through the collaborative efforts of its Sex Trafficking Branch of the Human Trafficking Subcommittee (HTS).
What are the six core recommendation areas of the plan?
The six core recommendation areas are Leadership, Empowerment, Justice, Collaboration, Prevention, and Measurement.
What is the overall goal of the plan?
The plan aims to establish a framework for healing, recovery, and accountability, with actionable steps to prevent sex trafficking across the state, improve the lives of survivors, and hold exploiters and buyers accountable.
What previous actions has Governor Healey taken related to sexual assault and exploitation?
Governor Healey has included measures in her FY27 budget to store Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits (SAECKs) for a minimum of 15 years and eliminate the statute of limitations in rape cases with a DNA match. She has also signed laws expanding protections for victims of sexual assault by healthcare providers, strengthening violence prevention, and banning revenge porn.
Key Features of the Five-Year Statewide Plan to Address Sex Trafficking
| Feature Area | Description | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Five years (State-level) | State-level |
| Lead Entities | Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Human Trafficking (State-level) | State-level |
| Core Recommendation Areas | Leadership, Empowerment, Justice, Collaboration, Prevention, Measurement (State-level) | State-level |
| Plan Objective | To establish a framework for healing, recovery, and accountability; to prevent sex trafficking, improve lives of survivors, and hold exploiters accountable (State-level) | State-level |
| Development Process | Collaborative effort involving the Human Trafficking Subcommittee, professionals, and individuals with lived experience (State-level) | State-level |
| Related Legislative Actions (Healey Administration) | Extended SAECK storage to 15 years; eliminated statute of limitations for DNA-matched rape cases; expanded protections for victims; banned revenge porn (State-level) | State-level |
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