NCJ Number
12613
Journal
ISSUES IN CRIMINOLOGY Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: (FALL 1973) Pages: 137-162
Date Published
1973
Length
26 pages
Annotation
PROSTITUTION SHOULD BE DECRIMINALIZED BUT NOT LICENSED BECAUSE SUCH LEGALIZATION WILL PERPETUATE SEXIST ATTITUDES, EXPECIALLY AGAINST POOR WOMEN.
Abstract
PROBLEMS EXIST IN THE PRESENT LEGAL STATUS OF PROSTITUTION, SUCH AS INABILITY TO ENFORCE THE LAWS AND DISCRIMINATION IN PENALITIES FOR THE MALE VICTIMS AND PROSTITUTES. IT IS ARGUED THAT LEGALIZATION OF PROSTITUTION WOULD CONTROL THE COST TO THE SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE OF HANDLING HUNDREDS OF PROSTITUTION CASES EACH YEAR, THE SPREAD OF VENERAL DISEASE, THE NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO BECOME PROSTITUTES, PIMPS, STREET SOLICITING, POLICE PAYOFFS, AND VIOLENT CRIMES LINKED TO PROSTITUTION. THE AUTHORS PROPOSE DECRIMINALIZATION OF PROSTITUTION TO BRING AN END TO THE HARASSMENT AND BRUTALIZATION OF THE PROSTITUTE BY POLICE, COURTS, AND JAILS. DISCUSSION IS THEN CENTERED ON THREE CALIFORNIA STATUTES AGAINST PROSTITUTES WHICH WILL BE ATTACKED BECAUSE OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL VAGUENESS, DENIAL OF EQUAL PROTECTION, AND VIOLATION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH.