PHOENIX (AZ Family) — Voters voted yes on Proposition 313, which would require anyone convicted of child sex trafficking to be sentenced to life in prison.

Arizonans overwhelmingly voted to pass the measure with a 61.82 percent vote on Election Day, surpassing 1 million votes.

Currently in Arizona, those found guilty of sex trafficking with a child under the age of 15 in Arizona face a minimum sentence of seven years in prison.

Under the new measure, anyone convicted of child sex trafficking will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole or release.

last month, supporters of the bill held a town hall in Scottsdale with Arizona Republican Sen. Janae Shamp and Kayleigh Kozak, namesake Kayleigh’s Lawwhich passed in 2022 and aimed to protect victims of abuse.

However, critics of the ballot measure said life sentences typically require a higher burden of proof to obtain a guilty verdict, which can be harder to obtain in these types of cases. The Arizona family spoke with a sex-trafficking expert who was against the proposal.

Dominique Roe-Sepowitzthe director Office of Intervention and Research in Sex Trafficking at ASUpointed out that the current justice system effectively holds those who commit these crimes accountable. She explained that changing the sentencing requirement for convicted child sex offenders to life in prison complicates the legal process.

If you have seen something suspicious or need help in a traffic situation, you can find more information and a hotline Here.

See a spelling or grammar mistake in our story? Please click here to report it.

Have a breaking news photo or video? Send with us here with a brief description.

Copyright 2024 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.