Bill addresses juvenile victims in court
Westerman, others note sentences for children retaliating against sex abusers
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., is again pushing a bipartisan measure addressing how juvenile crime victims are treated in the criminal justice system.
Westerman of Hot Springs announced the reintroduction of the Child Sex Crimes Victims Protection Act during a news conference Thursday alongside California Democrats Tony Cardenas and Sydney Kamlager-Dove. Maryland Democrat David Trone is another co-sponsor of the legislation. Westerman pushed an identical proposal during the previous Congress but the legislative body never considered the bill.
The measure concerns juvenile victims of trafficking, abuse or assault. In a situation involving retaliation against a perpetrator, a court would be allowed to impose a sentence below the mandatory minimum while considering how trauma affected the young person. The bill additionally notes courts could suspend “any portion of an imposed sentence.”
“There are children and young adults across America who have received harsh sentences for crimes committed against their abusers,” Westerman said outside of the U.S. Capitol alongside congressional colleagues and advocates.
“Rather than being met with compassion and healing, the criminal justice system has magnified these unspeakable things to other humans and especially children. If those children choose to retaliate and fight back, they may face a life in prison rather than a chance at freedom to heal from their trauma.”
Sara Kruzan understands the possible consequences facing victims who act against their abusers. In 1994, when Kruzan was 17, she received a life in prison sentence for killing the man who began sexually trafficking her when she was 13.
Kruzan served 18 years in prison before being commuted in 2011 and 2013. California Gov. Gavin Newsom pardoned Kruzan last July.
Speaking Thursday, Kruzan said the bill serves an important purpose in at least allowing people to discuss why “there aren’t any policies in the first place that protect children.”
“Children are not a commodity. They’re not for personal entertainment. Children are not disposable,” she said. “The fact that we’re here — and this crime for me happened in 1994 — says a lot.”
Westerman said the criminal justice system cannot turn against juvenile victims who protected themselves from future abuse and trafficking.
“This is legislation that will significantly reform the way juveniles are sentenced,” Westerman said.
“We cannot turn our backs on the children of the country, and we cannot allow those who experience unimaginable circumstances to be left behind and forgotten because they chose to fight back.”