POLITICS AND PROSTITUTION - A CASE STUDY OF THE REVISION, ENFORCEMENT, AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE NEW YORK STATE PENAL LAWS ON PROSTITUTION (FROM CRIME AND JUSTICE, 1971-72 - AN AMS ANTHOLOGY, 1974 BY J SUSMAN - NCJ-28615)

• NCJ Number: 28639
• Author(s): P A ROBY
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: AMS Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A STUDY OF THE POLITICAL PROCESSES INVOLVED IN THE CONTEXTUAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL CHANGES AFFECTING THE FORMULATION, ENFORCEMENT, AND JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION OF NEW YORK STATE'S PROSTITUTION LAWS FROM 1960 TO 1970.

Abstract

THE REFORM EFFORTS, INITIATED IN 1961, WHICH RESULTED IN THE 1965 ENACTMENT OF A LIBERALIZED LAW ON PROSTITUTION ARE DESCRIBED. THIS REVISED LAW, ENACTED ON MARCH 16, 1965, CLASSIFIED PROSTITUTION AS A VIOLATION AND REDUCED THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR PROSTITUTION FROM ONE YEAR TO 15 DAYS IN JAIL. THE LAW ALSO PROHIBITED THE PATRONIZING OF PROSTITUTES. PROBLEMS IN ENFORCEMENT OF THE 'PATRON CLAUSE' OF THE LAW BY POLICE AND THE COURTS ARE NOTED. THE ARTICLE ALSO TRACES THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PRESSURES AGAINST THE REVISED LAW WHICH WERE INITIATED BY CITIZENS, BUSINESSES, AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS. POLITICAL PRESSURES CAUSED BY THE MOVE TO 'LAW AND ORDER' ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. THESE INFLUENCES RESULTED IN A 1969 REVISION OF THE LAW, RECLASSIFYING PROSTITUTION AS A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR SUBJECT TO A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A 91-DAY SENTENCE. THE MORE RECENT POLITICAL AND SOCIAL PRESSURES WHICH MAY ONCE AGAIN FORCE REFORM OF THE LAW ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. A CHART SUMMARIZING THE HISTORY OF THE PROSTITUTION LAW AND THE GROUPS INVOLVED IN THE CHANGE PROCESS IS PROVIDED.