Bill aims to extend sentences for some human trafficking convictions
DENVER (KDVR) — A new Colorado bill would reclassify human trafficking as a crime of violence, allowing for enhanced sentencing if offenders charged in that category are convicted.
That means human traffickers will have the possibility of spending more time behind bars. The Colorado House bill, called “Strengthening Enforcement of Human Trafficking,” would make all forms of human trafficking a “crime of violence” if a weapon or injuries are involved. That means that if convicted, a judge would be allowed to issue a longer sentence through the enhancement.
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The bill would also increase the statute of limitations for human trafficking victims from three years to 20 years for traffickers of adults. There is no statute of limitations for human trafficking for sexual servitude of a minor.
Majority Leader Monica Duran, a Democrat representing Wheat Ridge and a bill sponsor, said that the violent, traumatic nature of human trafficking means that a three-year statute of limitations can be too short a time for a victim to be able to seek justice for their trafficker.
“Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for victims of human trafficking to be forced or coerced into engaging in it themselves,” Duran said in a release. “Our bill would significantly extend the statute of limitations for victims to hold their trafficker accountable while also protecting them from being charged with a human trafficking crime if they were coerced into it. We’re prioritizing victims by removing barriers to justice and keeping human traffickers out of our communities.”
The bill passed 60-3, with Reps. Elisabeth Epps, Timothy Hernandez and Javier Mabrey voting no on the measure. Two representatives were excused from the vote.
“When you have a small number of actors who are committing very serious offenses, a minimal change to the next sentencing category isn’t something that neither dissuades nor does it remove the pool of people who would do this,” Epps argued on the House floor.
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Epps also talked about over-incarceration in Colorado.
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