End Easy Plea Deals for Those Who Harm Children

Every day across America, children are sexually abused, physically abused, tortured, neglected, trafficked, and murdered.

When these crimes occur, families expect justice, but far too often, that's not what they receive.

Across the country, offenders accused of serious crimes against children frequently negotiate plea agreements that reduce charges, shorten prison sentences, or eliminate consequences that were designed to protect the public. In some cases, offenders have even avoided jail time altogether and even avoid being required to register as sex offenders despite allegations involving child sexual abuse.

While plea agreements are an important part of the criminal justice system and can sometimes spare child victims from the trauma of testifying or resolve cases where evidence presents significant challenges, they should never come at the expense of child safety or meaningful accountability.

When someone seriously harms a child, the justice system should prioritize protecting children—not making it easier for offenders to move on with their lives.

Real Children. Real Consequences.

One of the most heartbreaking examples is the murder of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham.

Years before Audrii was killed, Don Steven McDougal had been accused of getting into bed with a 10-year-old girl and attempting to remove her pants. Instead of facing charges that would have required him to register as a sex offender, he ultimately pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of enticing a child.

Because he wasn't required to register as a sex offender, there was no public warning, no registry entry, and no system designed to alert future families to his history.

Years later, he raped and murdered 10 year-old Audrii Cunningham.

Another example is Candon Dahle, a former BYU baseball player accused of sexually abusing a young relative between the ages of 7 and 12 over several years.

As part of a plea agreement, Dahle pleaded guilty to two felony counts of injury to a child while more serious charges were dismissed. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail, eight years of probation, community service, and fines. He was also not required to register as a sex offender.

These are only two examples.

Every week, new cases emerge in which children suffer unimaginable abuse, only for families to watch charges reduced, sentences shortened, or offenders receive punishments that many believe fail to reflect the seriousness of the crimes committed.

Children deserve better.

We Are Calling on Lawmakers to Strengthen Protections for Children

This petition calls on lawmakers at every level of government to strengthen accountability for serious crimes against children by:

Restricting plea agreements that substantially reduce accountability in serious crimes against children without extraordinary justification.
Requiring judges to clearly explain, on the record, why a plea agreement serves the interests of justice and public safety.
Ensuring meaningful penalties for those convicted of serious crimes against children.
Requiring appropriate sex offender registration whenever someone is convicted of sexually abusing a child or pleads guilty to offenses arising from child sexual abuse, except in truly extraordinary circumstances explained in open court.
Increasing transparency so victims, families, and the public understand how plea agreements involving crimes against children are reached.
Putting the safety, rights, and long-term well-being of children at the center of every decision.
Children Can't Speak for Themselves

Children cannot vote. They cannot hire lobbyists. They cannot walk the halls of Congress or state capitols asking lawmakers to protect them.

That responsibility belongs to us.

Every signature tells lawmakers that Americans believe children deserve stronger protections, meaningful justice, and a criminal justice system that puts victims before convenience.

Join the Movement

If you believe children deserve better…

If you believe those who seriously harm children should face meaningful consequences…If you believe protecting children should always come before protecting predators…

Please sign this petition today, then share it with your family, friends, coworkers, and anyone else who believes children deserve justice.

One signature may seem small, but hundreds of thousands of signatures become impossible to ignore.

Together, we can demand stronger protections for children and build a justice system that puts them first.

Our children are our future, let's start acting like it.