by Makenna Delos Santos, staff writer
Colorado voters will decide if the penalties for human trafficking of a minor will increase to life in prison without any possibility of parole under proposition 133 on the ballot.
The proposition is expanding the definition of child sex trafficking to include buying or selling sexual activity of a minor.
Under the current Colorado law, human trafficking of a minor occurs when an adult forces a minor into sexual activity in exchange for money or any other compensation.
Opponents of the proposition, including the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA), believe it is unlikely for the proposition to deter human trafficking but instead harms the victims and gives traffickers another tool to exploit them.
According to CCASA, if proposition 133 passes and becomes a new law in Colorado, victims that are forced to commit trafficking-related crimes could also be facing life sentences; especially if they do not have enough evidence to prove their innocence.
This organization believes that proposition 133 is harmful and unnecessary because traffickers often threaten to turn in their victims to maintain their power and control over them.
The League of Women Voters of Colorado (LWV) is another organization opposing proposition 133. Since most traffickers are not working alone, they are forcing their victims into roles of the operation like posting ads, collecting money, and watching minors; which gives the traffickers more power and control over their victims.
This organization believes the victims will be more afraid to come forward, and proposition 133 will harm the children instead of protecting them.
Voting “yes” on proposition 133 on the Colorado ballot would increase the penalties to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Voting “no” on the proposition keeps the same penalties.
Child sex trafficking is classified as a class 2 felony which is 8 to 48 years in prison and mandatory 5 years of parole.
The proposed penalty would now have child sex trafficking classified as a class 1 felony, which will mean life in prison without any possibility of parole and removed judicial discretion in sentencing.
This proposition would also increase state prison costs. The state is estimating it would cost an extra $180,000 in prison costs starting around 2041 and would continue to grow by that amount each year.
People in support of the proposition say life imprisonment is the proper punishment for child sex trafficking, and that proposition 133 would deter people from engaging in child sex trafficking and give victims peace of mind.
If proposition 133 passes, Colorado will become the 7th state to make human trafficking of a minor life in prison without the possibility of parole.
