Four Democratic Washington State Senators are pushing legislation to reduce penalties for individuals busted during sting operations for attempting to sexually abuse children.
The bill, Senate Bill 5312, sponsored by Sens. Lisa Wellman, Noel Frame, T’wina Nobles, and Claire Wilson, aims to shorten sex offender registration and post-release supervision for first-time offenders involved in stings where law enforcement poses as fictitious minors.
The proposal comes on the heels of a November vote by the Washington State Sentencing Guidelines Commission, which recommended lighter sentences for such offenders.
The commission’s decision mirrors SB 5312, advocating for alternatives to incarceration for crimes with “no identifiable victim,” citing lower recidivism rates among those convicted in stings compared to offenders who target real children.
Hellbound and Down 