SUBCHAPTER B
PROSECUTION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Sec.
3011. Trafficking in individuals.
3012. Involuntary servitude.
3013. Patronizing a victim of sexual servitude.
3014. Unlawful conduct regarding documents.
3015. Nonpayment of wages.
3016. Obstruction of justice.
3017. Violation by business entities.
3018. Evidence and defenses to human trafficking.
3019. Victim protection during prosecution.
3020. Restitution.
3021. Asset forfeiture.
3022. Professional licenses.
3023. Cumulative remedies.
3024. Sentencing.
3025. Data collection.
3026. Concurrent jurisdiction.
3027. Promoting prostitution.
3028. Patronizing prostitution.
Cross References. Subchapter B is referred to in section 2718 of this title.
§ 3011. Trafficking in individuals.
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits a felony:
(1) of the first degree if the person recruits, entices, solicits, patronizes, advertises,
harbors, transports, provides, obtains or maintains an individual if the person knows
or recklessly disregards that the individual will be subject to sexual servitude;
(2) of the first degree if the person knowingly benefits financially or receives anything
of value from any act that facilitates any activity described in paragraph (1);
(3) of the second degree if the person recruits, entices, solicits, advertises, harbors,
transports, provides, obtains or maintains an individual if the person knows or recklessly
disregards that the individual will be subject to labor servitude; or
(4) of the second degree if the person knowingly benefits financially or receives anything
of value from an act which facilitates any activity under paragraph (3).
(b) Trafficking in minors.--Notwithstanding section 1103 (relating to sentence of imprisonment for felony), a
person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment fixed by the court at not more
than 40 years if:
(1) the person violates subsection (a)(1) or (2); and
(2) the violation:
(i) results in a minor being subjected to sexual servitude; and
(ii) is part of a course of conduct subjecting minors to sexual servitude.
(Feb. 5, 2020, P.L.1, No.1, eff. 60 days; Dec. 14, 2023, P.L.366, No.39, eff. 60 days)
2023 Amendment. Act 39 amended subsec. (a)(1).
Cross References. Section 3011 is referred to in sections 3001, 3021, 3064, 5708, 9158 of this title;
section 6704 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations); sections 5551, 5552, 9714, 9720.2,
9799.14 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure); section 6139 of Title 61 (Prisons
and Parole).
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
23
cases (
13 in the last 5 years), 2015–2025 · leading case:
Com. v. Rivera, H., 312 A.3d 366, 2024 PA Super 48 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2024).
Com. v. Rivera, H., 312 A.3d 366, 2024 PA Super 48 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2024).
· cites it 3× “See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3011, 3012. For proceedings brought under Chapter 30 of the Crimes Code (relating to human trafficking), however, the General Assembly has restricted the admissibility of section 5920(b) testimony to trials under Chapter 30 of the Crimes Code “if the offense…”
Commonwealth v. Brockington-Winchester, 205 A.3d 1279 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).
· cites it 3× “See 18 Pa.C.S § 3011(a). However, the doctrine of collateral estoppel would preclude any such evidence from establishing this element.”
Commonwealth v. Kimmel, 125 A.3d 1272 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).
“A sampling of those statutes includes: 18 Pa.C.S. § 3011; 18 Pa.C.S. § 3012; 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Muniz, J., 164 A.3d 1189 (Pa. 2017).
· cites it 2× “17 The Tier II offenses enumerated in SORNA are as follows: 18 Pa.C.S. §3011(b) (relating to trafficking in individuals); 18 Pa.”
Com. v. Walker, W., No. 802 EDA 2024 (Pa. Super. Ct. Aug. 27, 2025).
· cites it 13× “” 18 Pa.C.S. § 3011, cmt. Here, the trial court explained: [Appellant] was well aware [the trafficking in individuals charge] entailed the prosecution alleging a minor [victim] being subject to sexual servitude.”
Com. v. Rivera, H., 2024 PA Super 48.
· cites it 3× “See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3011, 3012. For proceedings brought under Chapter 30 of the Crimes Code (relating to human trafficking), however, the General Assembly has restricted the admissibility of section 5920(b) testimony to trials under Chapter 30 of the Crimes Code “if the offense…”
Com. of PA v. BLK Samsung Smart Phone/BLK Rubber Case, 276 A.3d 1218 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2022).
· cites it 3× “The trial court found, after an evidentiary hearing, that the cell phone was used by Pearson in human trafficking, 18 Pa. C.S. §3011(a), a crime for which Pearson was convicted.”
Com. v. I.B. Pearson, No. 203 C.D. 2017 (Pa. Commw. Ct. Oct. 23, 2017).
· cites it 2× “The Commonwealth did not allege in its motion for forfeiture that the seized cash was connected to human trafficking or otherwise subject to forfeiture under Section 3021 of the Crimes Code.”
Com. v. Brown, N., No. 649 EDA 2017 (Pa. Super. Ct. Oct. 23, 2017).
“§ 6301(a)(1)(ii), 18 Pa.C.S. § 3011(b), and 18 Pa.C.S. § 6310.”
Nautilus Ins. Co v. Motel Mgmt. Servs. Inc, No. 18-2290 (3d Cir. July 22, 2019).
“, a minor female, sued MMS and other motel operators in Pennsylvania state court (“the underlying action”), alleging that (1) she “was recruited, enticed, solicited, harbored and/or transported to engage in commercial sex acts” in violation of Pennsylvania’s Human Trafficking…”
Commonwealth v. Witmayer, M., No. 64 MAP 2018 (Pa. July 21, 2020).
“17 The Tier II offenses enumerated in SORNA are as follows: 18 Pa.C.S. §3011(b) (relating to trafficking in individuals); 18 Pa.”
18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3011(a): 3 cases
Commonwealth v. Brockington-Winchester, 205 A.3d 1279 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).
“See 18 Pa.C.S § 3011(a). However, the doctrine of collateral estoppel would preclude any such evidence from establishing this element.”
Com. of PA v. BLK Samsung Smart Phone/BLK Rubber Case, 276 A.3d 1218 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2022).
“The trial court found, after an evidentiary hearing, that the cell phone was used by Pearson in human trafficking, 18 Pa. C.S. §3011(a), a crime for which Pearson was convicted.”
18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3011(a)(1): 7 cases
Com. v. Rivera, H., 312 A.3d 366, 2024 PA Super 48 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2024).
“See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3011, 3012. For proceedings brought under Chapter 30 of the Crimes Code (relating to human trafficking), however, the General Assembly has restricted the admissibility of section 5920(b) testimony to trials under Chapter 30 of the Crimes Code “if the offense…”
Commonwealth v. Brockington-Winchester, 205 A.3d 1279 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).
“See 18 Pa.C.S § 3011(a). However, the doctrine of collateral estoppel would preclude any such evidence from establishing this element.”
Com. v. Rivera, H., 2024 PA Super 48.
“See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3011, 3012. For proceedings brought under Chapter 30 of the Crimes Code (relating to human trafficking), however, the General Assembly has restricted the admissibility of section 5920(b) testimony to trials under Chapter 30 of the Crimes Code “if the offense…”
Com. v. Walker, W., No. 802 EDA 2024 (Pa. Super. Ct. Aug. 27, 2025).
“” 18 Pa.C.S. § 3011, cmt. Here, the trial court explained: [Appellant] was well aware [the trafficking in individuals charge] entailed the prosecution alleging a minor [victim] being subject to sexual servitude.”
Com. v. I.B. Pearson, No. 203 C.D. 2017 (Pa. Commw. Ct. Oct. 23, 2017).
“The Commonwealth did not allege in its motion for forfeiture that the seized cash was connected to human trafficking or otherwise subject to forfeiture under Section 3021 of the Crimes Code.”
18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3011(a)(2): 2 cases
Com. v. Walker, W., No. 802 EDA 2024 (Pa. Super. Ct. Aug. 27, 2025).
“” 18 Pa.C.S. § 3011, cmt. Here, the trial court explained: [Appellant] was well aware [the trafficking in individuals charge] entailed the prosecution alleging a minor [victim] being subject to sexual servitude.”
18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3011(b): 4 cases
Commonwealth v. Muniz, J., 164 A.3d 1189 (Pa. 2017).
“17 The Tier II offenses enumerated in SORNA are as follows: 18 Pa.C.S. §3011(b) (relating to trafficking in individuals); 18 Pa.”
Com. v. Brown, N., No. 649 EDA 2017 (Pa. Super. Ct. Oct. 23, 2017).
“§ 6301(a)(1)(ii), 18 Pa.C.S. § 3011(b), and 18 Pa.C.S. § 6310.”
Commonwealth v. Witmayer, M., No. 64 MAP 2018 (Pa. July 21, 2020).
“17 The Tier II offenses enumerated in SORNA are as follows: 18 Pa.C.S. §3011(b) (relating to trafficking in individuals); 18 Pa.”
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