Three years ago, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 35 — to greatly increase penalties for pimps who traffic in minors. In the past, the children have been treated as criminals and sent to juvenile hall, but the new law says they are victims of crime and should be treated with more compassion. The trafficking continues — with 12 the average age of children, boys as well as girls -- who serve as prostitutes. Now some LA County officials are asking Sacramento for authority to lock them up — for their own protection. Allison Newcombe is a staff attorney with the Alliance for Children's Rights, which provides legal services to children and youth.
KCRW
