The California Legislature has passed legislation

on

Wednesday to increase penalties for child sex traffickers, a seemingly simple bill that became one of the most divisive issues in the Capitol this year.

Senate Bill 14 would classify sex trafficking of minors as a “serious” crime under California’s criminal code, giving rise to the state’s “three strikes” law, which lets prosecutors impose life sentences in some cases.

California Democrats are changing course after killing a bill to tighten penalties for child sex trafficking

The proposal is on its way to the governor. Gavin Newsom after receiving unanimous approval in the General Assembly

and Senate.

The legislation earlier this year divided the Democratic caucus over how best to solve California’s growing problem of human trafficking without punishing victims.

Supporters of SB 14 have argued that the state law is too lenient on child sex traffickers

,

and that prosecutors need stronger tools to send people to prison for longer sentences. Although a sex trafficking conviction can carry up to 12 years in prison or 15 years to life if the crime involves factors such as force, fear, coercion or violence, some anti-trafficking activists say these sentences are rare.

,

and that traffickers are often released early just to repeat the crime.

California child sex trafficking bill that divided Democrats clears hurdle “SB 14 will serve to protect future generations by deterring people from engaging in this heinous crime,” said Sen. Shannon Grove, the Bakersfield Republican who sponsored the bill wrote. “SB 14 will send a direct message to those who commit this heinous crime of selling our children for sex in the state of California that we will no longer tolerate this and you will serve a lengthy prison sentence.”

Although SB 14 passed the Senate early this year, disagreement among Assembly Democrats nearly killed the measure in July when the high-profile Assembly Public Safety Committee rejected it over concerns it would target human trafficking survivors could ensnare the legal system.

The decision sparked public outrage and led to death threats against the committee’s chairman, Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), who eventually changed course and called for

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heard and quickly passed the bill. The uproar prompted both Newsom and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) to voice their opinions and encourage a resolution. Democrats who initially opposed the bill apologized, while dozens added their names

as co-authors

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as co-authors

and has made public statements in support of SB 14.

“Good to see. Thank you, @RobertRivas_CA for your leadership,” Newsom wrote on social media after SB 14 passed the General Assembly.

“I think it’s long overdue. I think it’s time for us to stand with the kids,” said Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park). “This is a message to all victims that we are here, we hear you, we see you and we want to help you.”

Minor amendments to the bill passed earlier this month address concerns that it could harm survivors with an amendment to “exempt human trafficking victims from the serious crime provision,” a win for more progressive Democrats and prison reform advocates.

“If proposed policies punish more individuals than intended, the collateral damage to specific communities could create a domino effect of irreparable injustice,” Jones-Sawyer said during an Assembly debate before voting on SB 14.

A list of anti-trafficking organizations supported the harsher penalties, along with religious groups, law enforcement and prosecutors. Opponents included advocates who have pushed for changes to the criminal justice system, including the American Civil Liberties Union, public defenders and the California Coalition for Women Prisoners.

The passage of Senate Bill 14 is a rare victory for Republicans in a state Legislature dominated by Democrats who in recent years have passed laws that repeal the tough-on-crime policies of the 1980s and 1990s that sparked a wave of massive lockdowns, reverse them. But it also exposes vulnerable cracks in the criminal justice reform movement at a time when concerns about crime are rising

,

And

as

Democrats are criticized for their actions

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Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) said the larger debate over SB 14 was more

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about expanding for the first time in many years the state’s three-strikes law, which prison reform groups blame for filling prisons with black and brown Californians.

“This conversation about SB 14 was not about whether child trafficking is serious,” Bryan said. “Of course it’s serious.”

said Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles). “In this conversation, we must willingly reopen three strikes in a decade, without the necessary safeguards to ensure that trafficking victims and survivors cannot themselves be sentenced to 25 years in prison, as often happens in these prosecutions that abuse victims and survivors , criminalized and exploited. through the criminal justice system in the hope that you will result in a conviction higher up the ladder.” This quote contains too much information and is difficult to follow. do you have another quote?

Newsom has until October. 14 to sign or veto SB 14 and hundreds of other bills.