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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session |
House: JUD DPA 9-0-0-0 |
HB 2207: child sex trafficking; juvenile defendants
Sponsor: Representative Bliss, LD 1
Caucus & COW
Overview
Exempts minor victims of child sex trafficking, who are themselves convicted of sex trafficking, from being sentenced to natural life imprisonment.
History
Child sex trafficking is a criminal offense generally relating to child prostitution that can be committed in a number of different ways. Almost all forms of this offense are classified as class 2 felonies. The only form of child sex trafficking that is not a class 2 felony involves a defendant who is at least 18 years old engaging in prostitution with a minor between 15 and 17 years old whom he did not know or have reason to know was a minor. If a person is convicted of a class 2 felony for child sex trafficking, he is subject to a mandatory sentence of natural life imprisonment without eligibility for any form of release (A.R.S. §§ 13-3212; 13-720).
Provisions
1. Establishes that a person convicted of a class 2 felony for child sex trafficking is not to be sentenced to natural life if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that said person was:
a) less than 18 years old during the commission of the offense; and
b) a victim of child sex trafficking, perpetrated by another individual, prior to committing the offense for which he is convicted. (Sec. 1)
2. Contains an intent clause. (Sec. 2)
3. Contains a Proposition 105 clause. (Sec. 3)
Amendments
Committee on Judiciary
1. Establishes that no person younger than 18 years old may be sentenced to natural life if convicted of child sex trafficking, regardless of his having been sex trafficked or not.
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HB 2207
Initials NM Page 0 Caucus & COW
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