NCJ Number
207401
Date Published
2004
Length
60 pages
Annotation
This report presents the findings and recommendations from an assessment of the impact of legalizing brothels in the Netherlands just over a year after the ban was lifted on October 1, 2000.
Abstract
The evaluation involved six sub-studies that were designed to collect information from various groups regarding the status of prostitution services since the ban on brothels was lifted. The sub-studies featured interviews with several hundred prostitutes, dozens of licensees, police officers, key informants familiar with prostitution practices, government officials, and the general public. The evaluation generally found that although it is too early to draw conclusions about the consequences of the legal licensing of voluntary brothel prostitution, there is support for the policy among prostitutes and licensees within the regulated sector as well as among various government agencies, business service companies, and the Dutch population. The implementation of the licensing and enforcement provisions of the law have been uneven among the municipalities, which are responsible for administering prostitution law. Generally, licensing procedures and enforcement practices are inconsistent, and not much has changed in the conditions under which prostitutes operate. Contrary to expectations, client use of regulated prostitution businesses has declined, and there is no indication that clients are showing a preference for the unregulated prostitution sector. It is not clear why this has occurred. Clients should be included in future studies. Based on the time required to see stabilization in administrative and enforcement transitions under the new law, sub-studies should continue to be done at regular intervals. 13 references