NCJ Number
47483
Journal
Monatsschrift fuer Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform Volume: 61 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1978) Pages: 62-67
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE RESULTS OF TWO EMPIRICAL STUDIES ON WEST GERMAN LAWS RELATING TO PROCURING ARE SHOWN TO BE VERY SIMILAR IN SPITE OF THEIR VERY DIFFERENT APPROACHES.
Abstract
THE STUDY OF R. DIEKMANN PROVIDES INFORMATION FROM QUESTIONNAIRES DESCRIBING 148 CASES OF PROCURER ACTIVITIES IN 25 URBAN AREAS, WHILE A DISSERTATION OF R. HEUSINGER EVALUATES DOCUMENTS AND STATISTICS ON 123 PROCURERS. DESPITE THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES, THE BASIC FINDINGS OF THE STUDIES AGREE: (1) THERE IS NO SINGLE PROCURER TYPE, ALTHOUGH SHARED CHARACTERISTICS SUCH AS USING PROSTITUTES FOR INCOME, AVERSION TO WORK, UNDERWORLD CONNECTIONS, AND FAIRLY YOUNG AGE (21 TO 30 YEARS OLD), AND A VARIETY OF SPECIFIC PROCURER TYPES CAN BE DISTINGUISHED; (2) THE CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PROCURER AND THE PROSTITUTE PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN AN ESTIMATED 85 PERCENT OF THE CASES, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF BASIC EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF THE PROSTITUTE, WHO TENDS TO BE LED INTO PROSTITUTION BY THE PROCURER; AND (3) BETWEEN 86 AND 87 PERCENT OF PROCURERS HAVE A RECORD OF PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS AND 61 PERCENT OF THE PROCURERS EXHIBIT DANGEROUSLY VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AFTER HAVING ENGAGED EARLIER ONLY IN CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY. ON THE BASIS OF THESE RESULTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE REGARDING VIOLENCE, FURTHER LIBERALIZATION OF PROCURING LAWS IS OPPOSED IN BOTH STUDIES. DIEKMANN EVEN SUPPORTS CHANGES IN THE CRIMINAL CODE, LAWS ON CRIMINAL PROCEDURES, AND STATE POLICE REGULATIONS, AS WELL AS METHODS OF APPLYING EXTANT LAWS, ALL TO PROTECT AGAINST VIOLENT EXPLOITATION OF PROSTITUTES BY THEIR PROCURERS. NOTES ARE SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)