POLICY & LEGISLATION
At Jaco Booyens Ministries (JBM), we believe prevention can’t stop at awareness — it must move hearts, shape culture, and inspire action that protects children and families. Real change happens when education and policy work together to create a culture of protection.
Our Policy & Advocacy efforts exist to bridge that gap — equipping leaders, communities, and organizations with the understanding, data, and collaboration needed to stop exploitation before it begins. Through education, research, and collaboration, we help leaders, parents, and communities understand how laws, digital platforms, and institutions can either protect or endanger children. Together, we’re building a movement that replaces exploitation with restoration, and awareness with action.
Proposed United States Human Trafficking Courts (HTCs)
Congress may remedy long-standing impediments to effective human trafficking prosecutions at the federal and state levels by creating a federal court system specialized in human trafficking adjudications that is open to state prosecutors. The current rate of human trafficking incidents grossly exceeds successful federal and state prosecutions of human trafficking crimes. This issue stems in part from the inherent complexity of human trafficking cases, which too often causes generalist judges to mishandle cases (and thus discourages robust prosecution). While Congress has devoted much attention to criminalizing human trafficking and funding task forces of investigators and prosecutors, systemic issues in the judiciary remain ripe for remedy through a specialized court.
Bottom Line: Issues with low and ineffective prosecutions of human trafficking crimes could be remedied with the creation of a specialized human trafficking court staffed with expert judges that is open to state prosecutors. Such courts could be (1) cost-effective by borrowing from existing district court resources and (2) further improve outcomes by modifying court procedures to encourage victim/witness testimony.
Our Six Focus Areas For Educating
1. Protecting Students from Harmful Content
Children deserve to learn in safe, age-appropriate environments. We work with educators and parents to promote accountability for the material presented in classrooms and on school networks—ensuring innocence is protected, not exploited.
2. Strengthening Adoption and Family Restoration
Every child belongs in a loving home. We support efforts that make adoption more accessible, equip foster families, and strengthen restoration pathways that keep families together whenever possible.
3. Safeguarding Schools and Accountability
Safety in education is non-negotiable. We advocate for clear reporting systems, transparent policies, and trained staff who can recognize and respond to signs of abuse or trafficking before harm occurs.
4. Eliminating Obscenity in Education
Children should never be exposed to sexually explicit material under the banner of education. We provide resources and training that help schools, boards, and parents establish healthy, protective learning standards for every student.
5. Preventing Abuse and Trafficking Through Education
Prevention starts with awareness and practical tools. We equip students, parents, and professionals to recognize grooming behaviors, understand boundaries, and respond safely—creating a culture of vigilance that stops exploitation before it starts.
6. Strengthening Consequences for Exploiters
Justice must be proportional to the harm caused. We support survivor-centered systems that hold exploiters fully accountable and prioritize the recovery and restoration of victims.
Building a Culture of Prevention
Each of these focus areas is a pillar in one mission: to protect, restore, and empower families. Through education, collaboration, and faith in action, JBM is uniting people across every sphere of influence to build a safer, stronger future—one community at a time.