Prop 313 - Arizona Ballot Initiatives 2024 - Better Together Arizona
In this episode of the Better Together Arizona podcast, ONE Community President & Co-Founder Angela Hughey is joined by Executive Director of the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, Tom Collins. Angela and Tom discuss AZ Prop 313 which would create a mandatory life sentence for criminals convicted of child sex trafficking.
Under current Arizona law, the penalties for child sex trafficking, which involves a range of criminal activities, are quite severe based on the age of the victim and the crime that has been committed. Existing sentencing guidelines are between seven years to life imprisonment and include limitations on releasability.
❌ Arguments against Prop 313: Tough on crime measures such as this one are not effective, in part because criminals don’t consider sentencing when they commit crimes. Mandatory minimum sentences such as this one shift the power of sentencing from judges to prosecutors.
✅ Arguments for Prop 313: Child sex trafficking is a human rights abuse and a growing problem. Social media has made it easier for criminals to commit these crimes and unaccompanied minors at the border are particularly vulnerable.