California Democrats BLOCK bill that would make child trafficking a serious crime, saying a “three strikes” rule that could send offenders to life in prison is “ineffective in preventing crime”
- The Democratic-led Assembly Public Safety Committee voted against a bill that would increase penalties for child sex trafficking
- They argued that the state’s Three Strikes Rule is “ineffective in preventing crime”
- But even California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was surprised by the move
California Democrats have blocked a bill that would have made child sex trafficking a serious crime in the state.
The Democratic-led General Assembly Security Committee voted Tuesday to reject Republican state senator Shannon Grove’s bill to make child trafficking under the state’s three strikes rule.
Under that rule, a person convicted of at least three serious crimes is punishable by imprisonment of 25 years to life.
However, Democrats on the Public Safety Committee had expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the “three strikes rule” and longer sentences, which they say are “ineffective in preventing crime.”
In the end, the committee voted against the proposal, although two Republican members voted in favor and six Democrats abstained.
Democrats on the Assembly Public Safety Committee, led by Councilman Reggie Jones-Sawyer (pictured in 2020), blocked a bill that would have made child sex trafficking a felony in California
Under California’s Three Strike Rule, a person convicted of at least three serious crimes is punishable by imprisonment of 25 years to life. The state capitol is pictured here
In a post-vote statement, Councilman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, a Los Angeles Democrat who heads the committee, explained why he blocked the bill.
“The Three Strikes model of sentencing is ineffective in preventing crime and protecting public safety. We will not build on a deeply flawed penal system that unfairly punishes disadvantaged communities,” he said.
“SB-14 makes no new corrective actions or improvements to laws already in effect,” Jones-Sawyer continued.
“Ultimately, the members of the Assembly’s public safety committee understood the author’s intent, but recognized that this bill needs a lot of work and major reconsideration.”
Assembly Majority Leader Isaac Bryan, another Democratic member of the committee, also said at Tuesday’s hearing, “Longer sentences don’t really prevent things from happening.
“All they’re doing is increasing our investment in systems of harm and subjugation at the expense of the investment that the communities need to make this not a problem to begin with,” he claimed.
The bill to add tougher penalties for child sex trafficking was introduced by Republican Senator Shannon Grove. In the photo, she is addressing the press after it was unanimously passed by the Senate
California Governor Gavin Newsom said even he was surprised by the decision to block the bill
But even California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was surprised by the decision to block the bill.
“I want to understand exactly what happened yesterday,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “I take it very seriously.”
Grove also condemned the decision.
She said in a statement: “After passing the Senate by a unanimous, bipartisan vote, I had hoped that Democrats on the Assembly Public Safety Committee, led by Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-LA), would agree to stop sex trafficking from a minor into law. serious crime.
“I am deeply disappointed that the Democrats on the committee could not bring themselves to support the bill, with their stubborn and misguided objection to any increase in fines, no matter how heinous the crime.”
Jones-Sawyer and Grove then decided to meet on Wednesday, in what Grove called a “productive meeting,” without any agreement.
She said she wants the bill to be voted on without amendments.
“The bill should be taken to the Assembly,” Grove said. “And it should be voted on as it is.”