Proposition 133 – Penalties for Human Trafficking of a Minor

Prop 133 expands the definition of child sex trafficking to include paying a minor for sexual activity. Prop 133 would make child sex trafficking a Class 1 felony with life in prison without parole.

Currently, child sex trafficking in Colorado is a Class 2 felony with 8 to 48 years in prison and parole (supervised release) after 5 years.

Recommendation: No

If only all judicial cases fell neatly into clearly specified categories, then we wouldn’t need judges (or AI); a basic computer algorithm could handle sentencing. Humans have a tendency to shade outside the lines so judicial discretion is valuable. I would prefer a ballot measure that changed Class 2 felony parole after 5 years in prison from mandatory to discretionary so that a parole board could use its discretion to grant parole.

Opponents worry that Prop 133 would punish victims who are pressured to commit crimes with sex traffickers and who might not report crimes to police.

Website for the Yes Side – Protect Kids Colorado
https://www.protectkidscolorado.org/

Website for the No Side – Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault
https://ccasa.org/vote-no-on-proposition-133-this-november-colorado-coalition-against-sexual-assault-warns-colorado-voters-of-risk-to-victims-facing-life-in-prison/


Approved Ballot Language
Proposition 133 (STATUTORY)

Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes modifying existing law concerning human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude, and, in connection therewith, creating new law expanding human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude to include knowingly trading anything of monetary value to buy or sell sexual activity with a minor and increasing the penalty to be life in prison without parole or release?

YES/FOR ___
NO/AGAINST ___

Prop 133 initiative language filed with the Secretary of State
https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/elections/Initiatives/titleBoard/filings/2025-2026/108Final.pdf