West Virginia § 61-14-8 Immunity for minor victim of sex trafficking

West Virginia Statutes

§ 61-14-8 — Immunity for minor victim of sex trafficking

West Virginia § 61-14-8

Ch. 61CRIMES AND THEIR PUNISHMENT

Art. 14HUMAN TRAFFICKING

This text of West Virginia § 61-14-8 (Immunity for minor victim of sex trafficking) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering West Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

W. Va. Code § 61-14-8 (2026).

Text

(a)In a prosecution or a juvenile prosecution for an offense of prostitution in violation of §61-8-5(b) of this code, a minor shall not be held criminally liable if the court determines that the minor is a victim of an offense under this article:Provided, That subject to proof, a minor so charged shall be rebuttably presumed to be a victim under the provisions of this article.

(b)This section does not apply in a prosecution or a juvenile proceeding for any of the other offenses under §61-8-5(b) of this code, including specifically soliciting, inducing, enticing, or procuring another to commit an act or offense of prostitution, unless it is determined by the court that the minor was coerced into the criminal behavior.

(c)A minor who, under subsection (a) or (b) of this section, is not

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(a) In a prosecution or a juvenile prosecution for an offense of prostitution in violation of §61-8-5(b) of this code, a minor shall not be held criminally liable if the court determines that the minor is a victim of an offense under this article:Provided, That subject to proof, a minor so charged shall be rebuttably presumed to be a victim under the provisions of this article.

(b) This section does not apply in a prosecution or a juvenile proceeding for any of the other offenses under §61-8-5(b) of this code, including specifically soliciting, inducing, enticing, or procuring another to commit an act or offense of prostitution, unless it is determined by the court that the minor was coerced into the criminal behavior.

(c) A minor who, under subsection (a) or (b) of this section, is not subject to criminal liability or adjudication as a juvenile delinquent is presumed to be an abused child, as defined in §49-1-201 of this code, and may be eligible for services under chapter 49 of this code including, but not limited to, appropriate child welfare services including, but not limited to, comprehensive trauma-informed services that are specialized to the needs of child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation or child sex trafficking victims.

Legislative History

2026 Reg. Sess., HB4433; 2024 Reg. Sess., HB4666; 2023 Reg. Sess., HB2252; 2021 Reg. Sess., HB2017; 2021 Reg. Sess., HB2830; 2017 Reg. Sess., HB2318; 2016 Reg. Sess., HB4489; 2011 Reg. Sess., HB3044