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13 - What is a Dangerous Crimes Against Children (DCAC) charge and how does it affect
my sentence?
DCAC stands for Dangerous Crimes Against Children and carries very serious sentencing consequences. In the state of Arizona, if you are convicted of a DCAC charge, you must be sentenced to the Arizona Department of Corrections for a mandatory flat term prison sentence. This means you cannot earn credit for good behavior or receive early release for any other reason. Additionally, your sentence must be stacked, which means that if you are convicted of more than one DCAC charge, your sentences must be served consecutively, or back to back for each count in most instances. For example, if you are convicted of a Dangerous Crimes Against Children in the first degree, including the Sexual Assault or Sexual Conduct with a Minor who is 12 years of age or younger, you must serve a life sentence. If you are convicted of more than one count, you must serve a life sentence back to back for each count.
Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-705(P) defines a Dangerous Crimes Against Children as any of the following:
1. "Dangerous crime against children" means any of the following that is committed against a minor who is under fifteen years of age:
(a) Second degree murder.
(b) Aggravated assault resulting in serious physical injury or involving the discharge, use or threatening exhibition of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument.
(c) Sexual assault.
(d) Molestation of a child.
(e) Sexual conduct with a minor.
(f) Commercial sexual exploitation of a minor.
(g) Sexual exploitation of a minor.
(h) Child abuse as prescribed in section 13 3623, subsection A, paragraph 1.
(i) Kidnapping.
(j) Sexual abuse.
(k) Taking a child for the purpose of prostitution as prescribed in section 13 3206.
(l) Child prostitution as prescribed in section 13 3212.
(m) Involving or using minors in drug offenses.
(n) Continuous sexual abuse of a child.
(o) Attempted first degree murder.
(p) Sex trafficking.
(q) Manufacturing methamphetamine under circumstances that cause physical injury to a minor.
(r) Bestiality as prescribed in section 13 1411, subsection A, paragraph 2.
(s) Luring a minor for sexual exploitation.
(t) Aggravated luring a minor for sexual exploitation.
(u) Unlawful age misrepresentation.
For more information about sentencing, see: Arizona Sex Crimes Section