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PROPOSITION 313: REFERRED TO THE PEOPLE BY THE LEGISLATURE RELATING TO CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING SENTENCING

This proposition is an amendment to the Arizona laws by the legislature. The Voter Protection Act limits the Arizona legislature s ability to amend or repeal voter-approved initiatives and referendums. Amendments must further the measure s original purpose and require a three-fourths majority in both legislative chambers. Repeals cannot be done unilaterally by the legislature and must be approved by voters through a new ballot proposition.Official TitleAMENDING TITLE 13, CHAPTER 7, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, BY ADDING SECTION 13-720; RELATING TO SENTENCING.Descriptive TitleTHE LAW WOULD REQUIRE THAT A PERSON CONVICTED OF CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING (CLASS 2 FELONY) BE SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR NATURAL LIFE AND WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY FORM OF RELEASE.For more informationArizona Secretary of State Official TextArizona Joint Legislative Budget CommitteePublicly-filed arguments for Publicly-filed arguments againstDOWNLOAD PRINTABLE BROCHURE (ENGLISH) (SPANISH)Video Prop 313 Explained Video All Ballot Props Explained¿Qué Hay En Tu Boleta De Votación?Impact on ArizonansA YES vote will eliminate the current sentencing ranges for a child sex trafficking conviction. Instead, anyone convicted of a Class 2 felony for child sex trafficking would have to be sentenced to imprisonment for natural life without the possibility of release.A NO vote will maintain the current statutory sentencing guidelines for those convicted of a Class 2 felony for child sex trafficking as follows: a) for a defendant’s first offense, a minimum of 13 years imprisonment; b) for a defendant with one historical prior felony conviction, a minimum of 25 years imprisonment; and c) for a defendant with two or more prior felony convictions, a minimum of 30 years imprisonment.BackgroundChild sex trafficking, with limited exceptions, is classified as a class 2 felony and is punishable as a dangerous crime against children. The sentence for child sex trafficking depends on certain factors, including the age of the victim, the nature of the offense,and whether the defendant has any previous felonies. Generally, a person convicted of child sex trafficking faces a prison sentence ranging from 10-38 years, up to natural life in prison if the person has previously been convicted of child sex trafficking.ProvisionsThis law will require that individuals convicted of a Class 2 felony for child sex trafficking face a mandatory life sentence in prison without the possibility of a reduced sentence. This provision removes judicial discretion, ensuring that anyone found guilty of this crime will spend the remainder of their natural life in prison. The law explicitly prohibits any form of release for those sentenced under this law, including parole, commutation, or any other mechanism for early release.Fiscal Analysis (Joint Legislative Budget Committee)Proposition 313 would require a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of release for any individual convicted of a class 2 felony violation of child sex trafficking. The proposition would increase costs for the Arizona Department of Corrections by increasing the amount of time individuals convicted of child sex trafficking serve in state prison. The fiscal impact would depend on how many individuals are convicted of a class 2 felony child sex trafficking violation after the revised sentencing requirement is effective. Since the revised sentencing requirements apply only to new sentences, any additional cost will likely not occur for seven years when the required life imprisonment sentence would exceed the multi-year prison sentence already imposed under current law.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Esta proposición es una enmienda a la Constitución de Arizona por parte de la legislatura. La Ley de Protección al Votante limita la capacidad de la legislatura de Arizona para enmendar o derogar las iniciativas y referendos aprobados por los votantes. Las enmiendas deben promover el propósito original de la medida y requieren una mayoría de tres cuartas partes en ambas cámaras legislativas. Las derogaciones no pueden ser realizadas unilateralmente por la legislatura y deben ser aprobadas por los votantes a través de una nueva proposición en la boleta electoral.Título oficialENMIENDA DEL TÍTULO 13, CAPÍTULO 7, DE LOS ESTATUTOS REVISADOS DE ARIZONA, MEDIANTE LA ADICIÓN DE LA SECCIÓN 13-720; RELACIONADA CON EL PROCESO DE SENTENCIA.Título descriptivoLA LEY REQUERIRÍA QUE UNA PERSONA CONDENADA POR TRATA SEXUAL DE MENORES (DELITO GRAVE DE CLASE 2) SEA SENTENCIADA A PRISIÓN BAJO LA CUSTODIA DEL DEPARTAMENTO DE CORRECCIONES DE POR VIDA SIN POSIBILIDAD DE LIBERACIÓN EN NINGUNA FORMA.Para más informaciónTexto Oficial del Secretario de Estado de ArizonaComité Conjunto de Presupuesto Legislativo de ArizonaArgumentos a favor presentados públicamenteArgumentos en contra presentados públicamenteImpacto sobre los habitantes de ArizonaEl voto a favor (SÍ) eliminará las pautas de sentencia actuales para una condena por trata sexual de menores. En su lugar, cualquier persona condenada por un delito grave de Clase 2 por trata sexual de menores deberá ser sentenciada a prisión de por vida sin posibilidad de liberación.El voto en contra (NO) mantendrá las pautas de sentencia establecidas por la ley para aquellos condenados por un delito grave de Clase 2 por trata sexual de menores, de la siguiente manera: a) para la primera ofensa del acusado, un mínimo de 13 años de prisión; b) para un acusado con una condena previa por delito grave, un mínimo de 25 años de prisión; y c) para un acusado con dos o más condenas previas por delito grave, un mínimo de 30 años de prisión.AntecedenteLa trata sexual de menores, con pocas excepciones, se clasifica como un delito grave de Clase 2 y se castiga como un delito peligroso contra menores. La sentencia por trata sexual de menores depende de ciertos factores, incluyendo la edad de la víctima, la naturaleza del delito y si el acusado tiene antecedentes penales. Generalmente, una persona condenada por trata sexual de menores enfrenta una sentencia de prisión que varía de 10 a 38 años, hasta cadena perpetua si la persona ha sido condenada previamente por trata sexual de menores.DisposicionesEsta ley requerirá que las personas condenadas por un delito grave de Clase 2 por trata sexual de menores enfrenten una sentencia obligatoria de cadena perpetua en prisión sin posibilidad de reducción de la sentencia. Esta disposición elimina la discreción judicial, asegurando que cualquier persona declarada culpable de este delito pasará el resto de su vida natural en prisión. La ley prohíbe explícitamente cualquier forma de liberación para aquellos sentenciados bajo esta ley, incluyendo la libertad condicional, la conmutación o cualquier otro mecanismo de liberación anticipada.Análisis fiscal (Comité Conjunto de Presupuesto Legislativo de Arizona)La Proposición 313 requeriría una sentencia de cadena perpetua sin posibilidad de liberación para cualquier individuo condenado por una violación de trata sexual de menores clasificada como delito grave de Clase 2. La proposición aumentaría los costos para el Departamento de Correcciones de Arizona al incrementar el tiempo que las personas condenadas por trata sexual de menores pasarán en prisión estatal. El impacto fiscal dependerá de cuántas personas sean condenadas por una violación de trata sexual de menores de Clase 2 después de que el requisito de sentencia revisado entre en vigor. Dado que los requisitos de sentencia revisados se aplican solo a las nuevas sentencias, cualquier costo adicional probablemente no ocurrirá hasta dentro de siete años, cuando la sentencia de cadena perpetua requerida exceda la sentencia de prisión de varios años ya impuesta bajo la ley actual.Additional campaign finance information for this ballot measure may be found on OpenSecrets: https://www.opensecrets.org/ballot-measures/AZ/2024/summary

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    Yes - For the Measure

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    No - Against the Measure

Sentences can often be reduced through plea deals or "good behavior." This measure mandates natural life imprisonment without parole for those convicted of child sex trafficking, reflecting the lifelong trauma experienced by victims.

Child sex trafficking subjects children to years of physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. Increasing penalties ensures that perpetrators face similarly severe consequences, removing them from society and preventing further harm to children.

The community has a collective duty to protect its most vulnerable members, particularly children. Proposition 313 ensures that Arizona’s legal system reflects this duty by punishing traffickers to the fullest extent.

The proposed ballot measure aligns with the growing national movement to combat human trafficking. Arizonans will be protecting children, holding criminals accountable, and affirming that child sex trafficking is intolerable in Arizona.

The measure reinforces Arizona's stance against child sex trafficking, ensuring criminals are held accountable and protecting children.
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Proposition 313 removes judicial discretion, shifting power to prosecutors who decide whether a case warrants mandatory life sentences, undermining the role of judges in delivering fair justice.

Victims of trafficking, often coerced into criminal activity, could be unfairly subjected to life sentences, removing judicial discretion in considering individual circumstances such as mental health, addiction, and remorse.

Proposition 313 is a simplistic and emotional reaction rather than a well-thought-out, evidence-based solution, neglecting the intricacies of sex trafficking and child exploitation.

Existing severe punishments already provide long sentences for child sex trafficking. Research suggests that increasing penalties does not significantly deter crime, as offenders often don't consider penalties when committing offenses.

Rather than emotional or sensationalized approaches, we need comprehensive education, prevention programs, and a fact-based legislative response to protect children and prevent trafficking.