California Democrats BLOCK bill that would make child trafficking a serious felony because they say a ‘three strikes’ rule that could see offenders jailed for life is ‘ineffective in preventing crime’
- The Democrat-led Assembly Public Safety Committee voted not to advance 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 Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was surprised by the move
California Democrats have blocked a bill that would have made child sex trafficking a serious felony in the state.
The Democrat-led Assembly Public Safety Committee voted on Tuesday not to advance Republican State Sen. Shannon Grove’s bill to make child sex trafficking subject to the state’s ‘three strikes rule.’
Under that rule, a person convicted of at least three serious felonies is punished with a prison sentence between 25 years to life.
Democrats on the Public Safety Committee, though, had expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the ‘three strikes rule’ and longer sentences, which they said is ‘ineffective in preventing crime.’
In the end, the committee voted down the proposal even though two Republican members voted in favor of it and six Democrats abstained.
Democrats on the Assembly Public Safety Committee, led by Assemblyman 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 felonies is punished with a prison sentence between 25 years to life. The state’s Capitol building is pictured here
In a statement following the vote, Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, a Democrat from Los Angeles who heads the committee, explained its reasoning for blocking the bill.
‘The Three Strikes model of sentencing is ineffective in preventing crime and protecting the public’s safety. We will not build on a deeply flawed sentencing system that unfairly punishes disadvantaged communities,’ he said.
‘SB-14 makes no new corrective actions or enhancements to laws already in place,’ Jones-Sawyer continued.
‘Ultimately, members of the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee understood the author’s intent but recognized this bill needs considerable work and great reconsideration.’
Assembly Majority Leader Isaac Bryan, another Democratic member of the committee, also said at Tuesday’s hearing: ‘Longer sentences don’t actually stop things from happening.
‘All they do is increase our investment in systems of harm and subjugation at the expense of the investments that the communities need to not have this be a problem to begin with,’ he claimed.
The bill to add stricter penalties for child sex trafficking was introduced by Republican State Sen. Shannon Grove. She is pictured speaking to the press after it unanimously passed the State Senate
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said even he was surprised by the decision to block the bill
But even California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was surprised by the decision to block the bill.
‘I want to understand exactly what happened yesterday,’ he told reporters Wednesday. ‘I take it very seriously.’
Grove also slammed the decision.
She said in a statement: ‘After passing the Senate with unanimous, bipartisan vote, I had hoped Democrats on the Assembly Public Safety Committee, led by Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-LA), would agree to make sex trafficking of a minor a serious felony.
‘I am profoundly disappointed that committee Democrats couldn’t bring themselves to support the bill, with their stubborn and misguided objection to any penalty increase regardless of 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 any changes.
‘The bill needs to be brought to the Assembly floor,’ Grove said. ‘And it needs to be voted on as is.’
DailyMail
