Arizona voters recently approved a ballot measure that will mandate life imprisonment for anyone convinced of child sex trafficking in the state.
The measure, Proposition 313, specifically applies to those convicted of a Class 2 felony involving child sex trafficking, imposing a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Over 60 percent of Arizona voters supported the proposition on Election Day, according to the Associated Press.
Previously, Arizona law required a minimum sentence of seven years for child sex trafficking involving victims under the age of 15, allowing for some judicial discretion. However, under Proposition 313, judges no longer have flexibility in sentencing for these crimes, with life imprisonment now mandatory.
Supporters have argued that judicial discretion results in the possibility of shorter sentences, and imposing stricter sentencing will act as a stronger deterrent against child sex trafficking. Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes expressed support for the measure, emphasizing that it sends a “clear message” to criminals.
“We see this as a clear message that Arizona will not tolerate child sex trafficking,” said Rhodes, according to AZCentral. “The severity of these sentences reflects our commitment to protecting children.”
The proposal comes as a number of states passed ballot measures on Election Day aimed at increasing law and order in the country. California voters also passed a measure that imposes harsher penalties for retail theft and drug offenses. The measure reversed parts of the 2014 law that downgraded certain non-violent felonies to misdemeanors, something many critics have attributed to the high levels of petty theft in the state.
This piece first appeared at TPUSA.
