Manhattan will no longer prosecute prostitution

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: The Hill

Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, Jr. announced on Wednesday that his office would no longer prosecute prostitution and unlicensed massage.

The new policy, according to a press release from the office, will prevent unnecessary future contacts with the criminal justice system, eliminate the collateral consequences associated with having a prostitution case or conviction and "empower New Yorkers to interact with law enforcement without fear of arrest or deportation."

"Over the last decade we've learned from those with lived experience, and from our own experience on the ground: criminally prosecuting prostitution does not make us safer, and too often, achieves the opposite result by further marginalizing vulnerable New Yorkers," Vance said in a statement.

"By vacating warrants, dismissing cases, and erasing convictions for these charges, we are completing a paradigm shift in our approach," he added.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/manhattan-will-no-longer-prosecute-prostitution/ar-BB1fTHXV?li=BBnb7Kz

[In_The_Wind]

1. That's interesting.

[getagrip_already]

2. Didn't see that coming......

I suppose they can still prosecute human trafficking though.

[Phoenix61]

6. This should make it more likely workers

will reach out for help. I can see traffickers telling them they will be arrested if the go to the cops. Now they don’t have to worry about that.

[Mr. Evil]

3. I never understood

why it's illegal to pay for sex but, it's perfectly legal to give it away for free.

[EllieBC]

5. It's not the same.

Not all sex workers are happy college women paying their way through law school or enterprising young women. Many are single mothers with few options. Many are addicts. Many are trafficked.

There’s literally no good reason a woman should have to pick sex work because it works better for her schedule or pays a lot.

[Johnny2X2X]

10. Spot on

Everyone brings up the odd case of someone willingly and happily doing sex work, but that's far from the norm. You'll find very few people having sex for money that want to be doing that. Those that are, good for them, but the other 98% deserve our help.

[EllieBC]

11. It ruins the fantasy if you say it out loud.

This is just another part of (some) men fetishizing women to the point where they think selling themselves is desirable. There’s a reason it’s usually the last resort and that’s because it’s damaging for many women. But hey as long as the men are ok I guess.

[speak easy]

12. "98% deserve out help"

You have studies / evidence showing that 98% of sexworkers are unwilling / unhappy doing sex work?

The strongest argument against sex work is that those who suffer psychic injuries / PTSD generally could not have anticipated that harm when starting out.

[Major Nikon]

13. You can say the same thing about all sorts of occupations

They just don't pay as much. The occupations where people are trafficked are those which are already outside the law, particularly those performed by undocumented immigrants. When you force something underground, you lose pretty much all control over it and the predators take over.

[EllieBC]

15. There's something a little more damaging

about women and girls (let’s not pretend men who buy sex are all upstanding citizens) being fetishized. They are sold and traded. Slavery is ok as long as it’s “sex positive” I guess.

[raccoon]

18. You and me both. Nt

[niyad]

23. No. It is illegal to get paid for sex. When was the last time you heard of the customers getting

arrested for paying for sex?

If it is illegal to sell something, it should be illegal to buy it. Misogyny and sexism at work.

[Marcuse]

24. Law enforcement routinely make sting arrests, like the one Bob Kraft beat.

[niyad]

25. I remember a time in the Bay Area when the police decided to "clean up" an area. They were only

targeting the women. Until various women's groups got together and started publishing pics of the men who were seeking those services. Amazing how fast that operation stopped.

[Maeve]

33. Last week, here in Ohio

The johns were arrested, trafficked women were referred to social services
https://www.nbc4i.com/news/ag-90-people-arrested-in-human-trafficking-sting-operation-614/

[niyad]

36. Excellent.

[mysteryowl]

4. Good decision!

I have a couple friends that are sex workers and they would love this in their city.

High end escorts often are released or not taken in, that needs to be shared by all.
I approve!

[bucolic_frolic]

7. It's a broad spectrum

from empowered libertines to those coerced, from vanity to self-disgust, from the richest elements of society to the poorest with the poorest impacted the most. It's the coercion they must keep an eye on. That's just plain wrong in a free society.

[MenloParque]

8. About effing time!

My pussy my rules!! Government should stay the fuck out of the beds of CONSENTING adults who are not held against their will.

[Mosby]

27. Should people be allowed to sell organs?

My kidney my rules, right?

[MenloParque]

35. Sure

Sure, because the act of two consenting adults in a paid arrangement for sex is exactly the same as removing and selling organ. Nice whataboutism.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. Does that make statute of limitations moot?

Some kingpins might get off if it does. (No pun intended. How else can it be phrased?)

[Efilroft Sul]

14. Today: Manhattan no longer prosecutes prostitution. March 31: New York state legalizes weed.

Can rock and roll be far behind?

[bucolic_frolic]

17. LOL

Last edited Wed Apr 21, 2021, 03:21 PM - Edit history (1)

[VWolf]

19. Thread winner

[Efilroft Sul]

29. Oh, how I wish I could take full credit for this, but I'm merely reporting what my lovely wife said!

[Happy Hoosier]

16. Good... but hopefully they still prosecute the pimps and...

human traffickers who are abusing and exploiting women.

[VWolf]

20. I believe that's the model in some European countries n/t

[Mopar151]

32. The object of prosecuting "white slavers", should involve their burial under jails. nt

[progree]

38. "will continue to prosecute other crimes associated with prostitution,including patronizing sex work

and sex trafficking"

[ismnotwasm]

44. I was coming here just to post that. Thank you

[AZLD4Candidate]

21. What will all those self-righteous, holier-than-thou vice cops do now?

I guess go after people selling loose cigarettes, like Eric Garner.

I support this completely.

As George Carlin said: "selling is legal. f--king is legal. Why isn't selling f--king legal? Why is it illegal to sell something that is perfectly legal to give away? In the military, you get a medal for spraying napalm on people. In civilian life, you go to jail for selling someone an orgasm."

[MichMan]

22. "Sex work is a means of survival for many in these marginalized groups"

The communities hit hardest by the continued criminalization of sex work and human trafficking are overwhelmingly LGBTQ, they are people of color, and they are undocumented immigrants,” said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s wife, Chirlane McCray. “Sex work is a means of survival for many in these marginalized groups.”

[Warpy]

26. It's a waste of time to go after the trafficked

They need to go after the traffickers, from low level street pimps to high level orgainzed crime.

[OnlinePoker]

28. What about the clients procuring the prostitutes?

I can see not going after the prostitutes. You would have to be pretty desperate to get into that life, but the johns come from all walks of life.

On edit...see it further down they are still going after those "patronizing" sex workers.

[Kaleva]

40. Planning a trip?

[newdayneeded]

45. Crap!

I was just about to ask "for a friend" what the job situation and climate is like in Mass. lol.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

30. It's a good thing that these people, regardless of gender, will not be jailed.

I would imagine this isn't their first choice of trade but no matter why or how, I don't see how jailing them would benefit anyone except for private prisons. I believe traffickers and others will still be fair game.

[progree]

39. Johns will be prosecuted

The district attorney's office, however, will continue to prosecute other crimes associated with prostitution, including patronizing sex workers and sex trafficking, The New York Times reported.

[TygrBright]

31. Wonder whether the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island will follow suit. n/t

[Devil Child]

34. Smart decision n/t

[WhoWoodaKnew]

37. I've often wondered people would react if trafficked women (for sex) were increasing...

in our towns/neighborhoods.


As others have said, the happy college student/housewife who is making some extra $$$$ is the exception not the norm. A TON of these women are being used by a TON of men/criminals/etc.

[bucolic_frolic]

41. Isn't prosecuting only the men an unequal application of the laws?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

42. Will Ghislaine Maxwell ask for immediate release?

I'm sure a herd of lawyers is working on it.

[zanana1]

43. I think it's about time.

Prostitutes should be checked for VD, though.