Senator Shannon Grove Aims to Strengthen Human Trafficking Penalties

Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) was sworn-in to represent the 12^th Senate District which encompasses Fresno, Kern and Tulare Counties. She has previously represented several areas of the Central Valley while she was an Assemblywoman, State Senator and Senate Republican Leader. Senator Grove is a strong supporter of law enforcement, keeping our students in schools with ample support for safety, encouraging small businesses and supporting agriculture and energy production in the Central Valley.

Earlier Monday, Senator Grove introduced Senate Bill 14 which will strengthen public safety by including human trafficking in the lists of crimes that are defined as serious and violent under California law, making the crime a strike under the Three Strikes law.

During the 2021-2022 legislative session, Senator Grove championed legislation and advocated for survivors that have been severely affected by the soft-on-crime policies, which has allowed the early release of violent offenders back onto the streets. California survivors, advocates and community organizations that have been impacted by human trafficking firsthand strongly supported Senator Grove’s previous legislative proposal. Despite the widespread support for the bill, Sacramento Democrats killed the bill in the Senate Public Safety Committee.

“Human Trafficking is not a crime taking place on the other side of the world,” said Senator Grove. “It’s happening right here in our own backyard, to students in our school systems and to our neighbors next door. It’s time we take swift action to protect survivors by giving law enforcement the tools they need to prosecute human trafficking as the crime that it has always been—a serious and violent offense.”

California consistently ranks number one in the nation for the number of human trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Law enforcement agencies and special task forces have been dedicated to stopping human trafficking across the state, yet the level of sophistication and organization of these trafficking rings will require stronger consequences for law enforcement to hold criminals accountable.

Senator Grove will continue to prioritize public safety measures that hold criminals accountable and protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 14, as introduced, Grove. Violent felonies: serious felonies: human trafficking.

Existing law defines the terms “serious felony” and “violent felony” for various purposes, including, among others, enhancing the punishment for felonies pursuant to existing sentencing provisions commonly known as the Three Strikes Law.

This bill would include human trafficking within the definition of a violent felony and the definition of a serious felony for all purposes, including for purposes of the Three Strikes Law. By expanding the scope of an enhancement, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Under the Bill

(c) The Legislature finds and declares that the following specified crimes merit special consideration when imposing a sentence to display society’s condemnation for these extraordinary crimes of violence against the person. For the purpose of this section, “violent felony” means any of the following:

(1) Murder or voluntary manslaughter.

(2) Mayhem.

(3) Rape as defined in paragraph (2) or (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 261 or paragraph (1) or (4) of subdivision (a) of former Section 262.

(4) Sodomy as defined in subdivision (c) or (d) of Section 286.

(5) Oral copulation as defined in subdivision (c) or (d) of Section 287 or of former Section 288a.

(6) Lewd or lascivious act as defined in subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 288.

(7) Any felony punishable by death or imprisonment in the state prison for life.

(8) Any felony in which the defendant inflicts great bodily injury on a person other than an accomplice, which has been charged and proved as provided for in Section 12022.7, 12022.8, or 12022.9 on or after July 1, 1977, or as specified prior to July 1, 1977, in Sections 213, 264, and 461, or any felony in which the defendant uses a firearm which use has been charged and proved as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 12022.3, or Section 12022.5 or 12022.55.

(9)Any robbery.

(9) Robbery.

(10) Arson, in violation of subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 451.

(11) Sexual penetration as defined in subdivision (a) or (j) of Section 289.

(12) Attempted murder.

(13) A violation of Section 18745, 18750, or 18755.

(14) Kidnapping.

(15) Assault with the intent to commit a specified felony, in violation of Section 220.

(16) Continuous sexual abuse of a child, in violation of Section 288.5.

(17) Carjacking, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 215.

(18) Rape or sexual penetration, in concert, in violation of Section 264.1.

(19) Extortion, as defined in Section 518, which that would constitute a felony violation of Section 186.22.

(20) Threats to victims or witnesses, as defined in Section 136.1, which that would constitute a felony violation of Section 186.22.

(21) Any burglary Burglary of the first degree, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 460, wherein it is charged and proved that another person, other than an accomplice, was present in the residence during the commission of the burglary.

(22) Any violation of Section 12022.53.

(23) A violation of subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 11418.

(24) Human trafficking, in violation of Section 236.1.

Senator Shannon Grove Aims to Strengthen Human Trafficking Penalties

Press Release

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