Arizona statute
A.R.S. § 13-3212 — Child sex trafficking; classification; increased punishment; definition
Current through 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)
Part of Chapter 32: Prostitution, Arizona Revised Statutes.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of A.R.S. § 13-3212
Statutory text current through the 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025). This publication reproduces the official statutory text published by the Arizona Legislature (Arizona Legislative Council compilation, azleg.gov); it is not the official statutes of the State of Arizona.
A. A person commits child sex trafficking by knowingly:
1. Causing any minor to engage in prostitution.
2. Using any minor for the purposes of prostitution.
3. Permitting a minor who is under the person's custody or control to engage in prostitution.
4. Receiving any benefit for or on account of procuring or placing a minor in any place or in the charge or custody of any person for the purpose of prostitution.
5. Receiving any benefit pursuant to an agreement to participate in the proceeds of prostitution of a minor.
6. Financing, managing, supervising, controlling or owning, either alone or in association with others, prostitution activity involving a minor.
7. Transporting or financing the transportation of any minor with the intent that the minor engage in prostitution.
8. Providing a means by which a minor engages in prostitution.
9. Enticing, recruiting, harboring, providing, transporting, making available to another or otherwise obtaining a minor with the intent to cause the minor to engage in prostitution or any sexually explicit performance.
10. Enticing, recruiting, harboring, providing, transporting, making available to another or otherwise obtaining a minor with the knowledge that the minor will engage in prostitution or any sexually explicit performance.
B. A person who is at least eighteen years of age commits child sex trafficking by knowingly:
1. Engaging in prostitution with a minor who is under fifteen years of age or engaging in prostitution with a person for the purpose of facilitating the prostitution of a minor under fifteen years of age.
2. Engaging in prostitution with a minor who the person knows or should have known is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age or engaging in prostitution with a person for the purpose of facilitating the prostitution of a minor who the person knows or should have known is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age.
3. Engaging in prostitution with a minor who is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age.
C. It is not a defense to a prosecution under subsection A and subsection B, paragraphs 1 and 2 of this section that the other person is a peace officer posing as a minor, a person assisting a peace officer posing as a minor or a peace officer posing as a person facilitating the prostitution of a minor.
D. Notwithstanding any other law, a sentence imposed on a person for a violation of this section shall be consecutive to any other sentence imposed on the person at any time.
E. Child sex trafficking pursuant to subsection A of this section is a class 2 felony if the minor is under fifteen years of age and is punishable pursuant to section 13-705.
F. Child sex trafficking pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 1 of this section is a class 2 felony and is punishable pursuant to section 13-705.
G. Except as provided in subsection H of this section, if the minor is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age, child sex trafficking pursuant to subsection A of this section is a class 2 felony, the person convicted shall be sentenced pursuant to this section and the person is not eligible for suspension of sentence, probation, pardon or release from confinement on any basis except as specifically authorized by section 31-233, subsection A or B until the sentence imposed by the court has been served or commuted. The presumptive term may be aggravated or mitigated within the range under this section pursuant to section 13-701, subsections C, D and E. The terms are as follows:
1. The term for a first offense is as follows:
Minimum Presumptive Maximum
13 years 20 years 27 years
2. The term for a defendant who has one historical prior felony conviction is as follows:
Minimum Presumptive Maximum
25 years 35 years 45 years
3. The term for a defendant who has two or more historical prior felony convictions is as follows:
Minimum Presumptive Maximum
30 years 40 years 50 years
H. If the person has previously been convicted of child sex trafficking involving a minor who is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age, child sex trafficking pursuant to subsection A of this section is a class 2 felony, the person convicted shall be sentenced pursuant to this section and the person shall be sentenced to imprisonment in the custody of the state department of corrections for natural life. A person who is sentenced to natural life is not eligible for commutation, parole, work furlough, work release or release from confinement on any basis for the remainder of the person's natural life.
I. If the minor is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age, child sex trafficking pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 2 of this section is a class 2 felony, the person convicted shall be sentenced pursuant to this section and the person is not eligible for suspension of sentence, probation, pardon or release from confinement on any basis except as specifically authorized by section 31-233, subsection A or B until the sentence imposed by the court has been served or commuted. The presumptive term may be aggravated or mitigated within the range under this section pursuant to section 13-701, subsections C, D and E. The terms are as follows:
1. The term for a first offense is as follows:
Minimum Presumptive Maximum
7 years 10.5 years 21 years
2. The term for a defendant who has one historical prior felony conviction is as follows:
Minimum Presumptive Maximum
14 years 15.75 years 28 years
3. The term for a defendant who has two or more historical prior felony convictions is as follows:
Minimum Presumptive Maximum
21 years 28 years 35 years
J. Except as provided in subsection K of this section, child sex trafficking pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 3 of this section is a class 5 felony. If the court sentences the person to a term of probation, the court shall order that as an initial term of probation the person be imprisoned in the county jail for not less than one hundred eighty consecutive days. This jail term shall commence on the date of sentencing. The court may suspend ninety days of the jail sentence if the person has not previously been convicted of a violation of this section, a violation of section 13-3214 or a violation of any city or town ordinance that prohibits prostitution and that has the same or substantially similar elements as section 13-3214 and the person successfully completes an appropriate court ordered education or treatment program.
K. If the person has previously been convicted of child sex trafficking or attempted child sex trafficking pursuant to this section, child sex trafficking pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 3 of this section is a class 2 felony and the person is not eligible for suspension of sentence, probation, pardon or release from confinement on any basis except as specifically authorized by section 31-233, subsection A or B until the sentence imposed has been served or commuted.
L. This section does not preclude the state from alleging and proving any other sentencing enhancements as provided by law.
M. For the purposes of this section, "sexually explicit performance" means a live or public act or show intended to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires or appeal to the prurient interest of patrons.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is child sex trafficking a felony or a misdemeanor in Arizona?
It depends on the circumstances: child sex trafficking ranges from a Class 5 Felony to a Class 2 Felony in Arizona under A.R.S. § 13-3212.
Child sex trafficking — minor under 15 (subsection A conduct): Class 2 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-3212E) · Child sex trafficking — engaging in prostitution with minor under 15 (or facilitating same): Class 2 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-3212F) · Child sex trafficking — minor 15-17 (subsection A conduct), first/subsequent offense: Class 2 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-3212G) · Child sex trafficking — minor 15-17, prior conviction for same offense (natural life): Class 2 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-3212H) · Child sex trafficking — engaging in prostitution with minor 15-17 (knowing or should have known), or facilitating same: Class 2 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-3212I) · Child sex trafficking — engaging in prostitution with minor 15-17 (no facilitation element): Class 5 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-3212J) · Child sex trafficking — engaging in prostitution with minor 15-17, prior conviction: Class 2 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-3212K)
Which Arizona statute covers child sex trafficking?
Child sex trafficking is governed by A.R.S. § 13-3212 (Child sex trafficking; classification; increased punishment; definition).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.