Arizonans pass measure requiring life in prison for convicted child sex traffickers

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Voters decided “yes” on Proposition 313, which would require anyone convicted of child sex trafficking to be sentenced to life in prison.

Arizonans overwhelmingly voted to pass the measure, with 61.82% of the vote on Election Day, exceeding 1 million votes.

Currently in Arizona, those convicted of sex trafficking of children under 15 years of age face a minimum sentence of seven years in prison.

Under the new measure, anyone convicted of child sex trafficking will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole or release.

Last month Supporters of the bill held a town hall in Scottsdale with Arizona Republican Sen. Janay Champ and namesake Kaylee Kozak Cayley’s Lawwhich was adopted in 2022 and aims to protect victims of violence.

But critics of selective measures say life sentences typically require a higher burden of proof for a conviction, which can be more difficult to achieve in such cases. Arizona’s family spoke with a sex trafficking expert who was against the proposal.

Dominic Rowe-Sepowitzdirector Office of Sex Trafficking and Research at ASUstressed that the current justice system is effective in bringing to justice those who commit these crimes. She explained that changing the sentence for offenders convicted of child sex trafficking to life imprisonment complicates the judicial process.

If you notice something suspicious or need help with a human trafficking situation, you can find more information and a hotline. Here.

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