Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR-04) and Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) have introduced new legislation aimed at reforming the sentencing of juveniles in federal courts. The bill, titled the Sara’s Law and the Preventing Unfair Sentencing Act of 2026, seeks to give judges more discretion when sentencing minors, particularly those who have been victims of abuse.
The proposed law would allow federal judges to consider the circumstances surrounding juvenile offenders, especially if they were victims of sexual violence or trafficking. Under this legislation, juveniles found guilty of crimes against their abusers would not be subject to mandatory minimum sentences that are typically required for such offenses.
“It is unjust to sentence juvenile victims of sexual violence to life in prison for acts of self defense, and as a country, we have a moral obligation not to turn our backs on children at the moment they need protection most,” said Congressman Westerman. “The United States is a nation of second chances, and that is what we owe these children who have been on the receiving end of some of the most heinously criminal acts imagined. I am proud to introduce the Sara’s Law and Preventing Unfair Sentencing Act of 2026, which ensures that our justice system does not mandate minimum sentencing for youthful offenders who have committed violent crimes against their abusers after being trafficked, abused, or sexually assaulted. This bill will allow these children to recover from unimaginable trauma, rebuild their lives, and ultimately grow into upstanding members of our communities.”
“Sentencing should be based on the full context of a crime, especially if the defendants are youth victims of abuse,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “Historically, mandatory minimum sentences have increased incarceration and resulted in disproportionately harsher sentences for Black people and people of color without reducing crime. I’m proud to co-lead Sara’s Law, which would exempt minors who have experienced abuse from mandatory minimums and enable judges to consider the full picture when sentencing.”
James Dold, CEO and Founder of Human Rights for Kids, commented: “The most vulnerable and overlooked victims of child trafficking and sexual abuse are those who end up in our criminal justice system. Recent research has shown that almost one in ten children prosecuted as adults commit their offense alongside a co-defendant or against a victim who previously raped, abused, or trafficked them. Congressman Westerman is fighting for these forgotten child victims who deserve our compassion, understanding, and mercy. We are proud to stand alongside him in this fight.”
In addition to eliminating mandatory minimums for certain juvenile cases involving abuse or trafficking by victims’ abusers, the bill also allows judges greater flexibility by considering “the diminished culpability of juveniles compared to that of adults.” Judges could depart from mandatory minimum sentences by up to 35 percent if appropriate based on age or potential for rehabilitation.
Another provision prohibits federal judges from imposing life without parole on juveniles. Instead, any minor sentenced to life imprisonment would be guaranteed a parole hearing after serving 20 years—a measure intended to align federal law with the Supreme Court’s 2012 Miller v. Alabama decision.
Bruce Westerman has represented Arkansas’s 4th district in Congress since 2015 after replacing Tom Cotton [source]. Before his tenure in Congress began in 2015 [source], he served in the Arkansas House from 2011 through 2015.
Westerman was born in Hot Springs in 1967 and continues to reside there at age 55 [source]. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas in 1990.
