Require Life in Prison for Human Trafficking of Minors Measure
Colorado Ballot Measure - Initiative 108
Election: Nov. 3, 2026 (General)
Outcome: Pending
Categories:
Criminal JusticeMinors and Children
Summary
The ballot initiative would require life in prison without parole or release for persons convicted of human trafficking a child for sexual servitude.
As of 2026, the crime human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude was defined as:
- selling or otherwise knowingly facilitating the commercial sexual activity involving a person under age 18 or
- knowingly advertising, offering, or selling travel services that facilitate commercial sexual activity involving a person under age 18.
The ballot initiative would add a third element to this definition: knowingly exchanging anything of monetary value to buy or sell sexual activity with a person under age 18.
The ballot initiative would change the offense from a class 2 felony to a class 1 felony. As of 2026, the sentence for a class 2 felony in Colorado was eight to 24 years in prison, while a class 1 felony was punishable by life imprisonment.
Measure Text
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Colorado
SECTION 1. Legislative Declaration. (1) The people of the State of Colorado hereby find and declare:
(a) Residents of Colorado and other states and territories throughout the United States have seen an
alarming increase in human trafficking, especially human trafficking involving minor children;
(b) Current penalties in Colorado law with parole possible in as little as eight years have failed to adequately
deter the human trafficking of minor children; and
(c) It is the measure of a fair and compassionate society to ensure that children are not for sale
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-3-504, amend (2)(a) and (2)(b); and add (5) and (6) as follows:
18-3-504. Human trafficking for sexual servitude - human trafficking of a minor for sexual
servitude.
(2) (a) A person commits human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude if the person:
(I) Knowingly sells, recruits, harbors, transports, transfers, isolates, entices, provides, receives,
obtains by any means, maintains, or makes available a minor for the purpose of commercial sexual activity;
(II) Knowingly advertises, offers to sell, or sells travel services that facilitate an activity prohibited
pursuant to subsection (2)(a)(I) of this section; OR
(III) KNOWINGLY TRADES ANYTHING OF MONETARY VALUE TO BUY OR SELL SEXUAL ACTIVITY
WITH A MINOR.
(b) Human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude is a class 2 1 felony. The court shall sentence a person convicted of such a class 2 1 felony to the department of corrections for a term of LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE OR RELEASE, as set forth in section 18-1.3-401.
(5) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL LIMIT A GOVERNORS STANDING AUTHORITY OF PARDON,
COMMUTATION, OR CLEMENCY.
(6) THE SHORT TITLE OF THIS SECTION IS THE CHILDREN ARE NOT FOR SALE ACT.
SECTION 3. Effective date -- applicability. This act takes effect on January 1, 2027, and applies to
offenses committed on or after that date.
Resources
Official Summary
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