NCJ Number
86638
Date Published
1981
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This monograph examines several European countries' policies to legalize prostitution while controlling prostitution-related activities and discusses alternatives to prohibition in the United States.
Abstract
Critics of U.S. laws prohibiting prostitution argue that they are ineffective, invade individual privacy, discriminate against women, and are a drain on law enforcement resources. West Germany legalizes prostitution, but restricts the activity to specific areas, requires periodic health checks for venereal disease, forbids pimping and procuring, and taxes the income. One study claims that prostitution-related crime is not a serious problem, but conclusive data is unavailable. Prostitution has always been legal in Great Britain, but concern about the harassment and annoyance of public solicitation culminated in the 1959 Street Offense Act. It punishes soliciting on the streets with a fine and allows heavy fines and long sentences for pimps and madams living off the proceeds of prostitution. Prostitution is legal in France, but brothels were banned in 1946. The government's attempt to increase penalties for pimping and owners of hotels where prostitutes worked in 1975 produced a prostitutes' strike, and prostitution apparently remains widespread. The Netherlands forbids prostitution technically, but government officials have chosen to control it by confining prostitutes to certain areas. The Soviet Union condemns prostitution, but only the activities of pimps and brothel keepers are illegal. Most U.S. jurisdictions enacted stricter laws and upgraded enforcement activities in the 1950's. However, the woman and not the customer or the pimp is usually arrested. Nevada is the only State with legalized prostitution, and it controls brothels' locations, licenses prostitutes, and requires weekly venereal disease examinations. The brothels have become a Nevada tradition and make special efforts to maintain good relations with their communities. Many opponents of legalization favor decriminalization as an alternative. However, authorities believe that most Americans reject both legalization and decriminalization, interpreting these options as tacit government approval of commercialized vice. The paper contains 33 footnotes.