State Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) introduced Senate Bill 14, a vital legislation to combat child sex trafficking in California. By including the sex trafficking of minors as a serious crime, SB 14 aims to provide stronger protections for the millions of victims who experienced such nightmarish abuse.
Under current California law, sex trafficking of minors is not considered a serious or violent crime, which results in the early release from prison for perpetrators. What we witnessed in the California State Legislature last week was jaw-dropping and outrageous.
The California State Public Safety Committee voted down Senate Bill 14 because they believed this reclassification would lead to more incarcerated people, especially from “Black, indigenous, and people of color communities.” The Committee also argued that victims of sex trafficking already receive medical help (AB 1710) and still have the right to an advocate present during police interviews (SB 376).
The message was clear: protect the criminals, not the victims.
The Horrific Realities of Child Sex Trafficking
Children as young as 11 and 12 are subjected to unimaginable horrors as traffickers force them into selling their bodies for financial gain. These victims endure physical and psychological abuse, with daily quotas of sexual encounters, threats, violence, and deprivation of basic necessities. Traffickers treat victims as property, inflicting severe trauma that leads to long-term physical and psychological suffering.
California ranks highest in the nation for reported cases of human trafficking. Recognizing the severity of this crime, the California Attorney General has labeled it “modern-day slavery.” However, Assemblywoman Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), wife of the Attorney General, was among the legislators who voted against making human trafficking of minors a serious crime.
Reporters, Elon Musk, and Other Outraged Californians
It didn’t take long for public outrage to ensue. Once the Public Safety Committee rejected SB 14, a firestorm of criticism, tweets, articles, and a call for change erupted. See the emotional reactions below:
Senate Bill 14’s Impact
SB 14 proposes amending the Penal Code to designate the sex trafficking of minors as a serious crime, ensuring that those convicted face appropriate penalties. By classifying human trafficking as a strike offense, the bill conveys that California will not stand by and allow the perpetrators of these horrific acts to slide through the justice system with a slap on the wrist. Passing this bill would mark a long-overdue shift toward prosecuting these crimes as serious offenses, giving victims a much-needed sense of closure and victory.
Get more information here and tell your state legislator to support SB 14: https://sr12.senate.ca.gov/sb14
