NCJ Number
46605
Date Published
1977
Length
160 pages
Annotation
FEMALE PROSTITUTION IN ENGLAND IS SURVEYED IN DEPTH, INCLUDING THE FORMS IT TAKES, LAWS CONTROLLING IT, AND DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED ENFORCING THESE LAWS. VARIOUS SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING PROSTITUTION ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE DISADVANTAGES OF PROSTITUTION -- SPREAD OF VENEREAL DISEASE, AN AFFRONT TO MORALS, A TEMPTATION TO CHILDREN, AND OCCASIONALLY A PUBLIC NUISANCE -- ARE WELL KNOWN. HISTORICAL RESEARCH CONFIRM THAT THESE ARGUMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR CENTURIES. STUDIES SHOW THAT PROSTITUTION IN WESTERN SOCIETY HAS FLOURISHED IN TIMES OF STRICT MORALITY AND HAS BEEN LESS PREVELANT IN TIMES OF RELAXED MORAL STANDARDS. TRADITIONALLY, PROSTITUTION HAS BEEN HANDLED BY LAWS REGULATING IT, PROHIBITING IT, OR ALLOWING IT TO OPERATE FREELY WITH THE LAW RESTRAINING ONLY THOSE ASPECTS RELATED TO PUBLIC NUISANCE. GERMANY IS PROBABLY THE LEAD PROPONENT OF REGULATION. UNDER THIS SYSTEM, PROSTITUTES ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER AND UNDERGO HEALTH INSPECTIONS. HOWEVER, IN ACTUAL PRACTICE, ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION OF PROSTITUTES REGISTER, THE MORALS POLICE ARE NOTORIOUSLY CORRUPT, AND THE HEALTH INSPECTIONS DO LITTLE TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF VENEREAL DISEASE. IN THE UNITED STATES, MOST JURISDICTIONS OUTLAW PROSTITUTION, WHICH TENDS TO DRIVE IT UNDERGROUND AND STRENGTHEN ALLIANCES WITH CRIMINALS. IN ENGLAND AND WALES PROSTITUTES ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE FREELY. HOWEVER, THE VAGRANCY ACT OF 1824 AND THE STREET OFFENCES ACT OF 1959 ATTEMPT TO LIMIT PUBLIC SOLICITATION, THE OPERATION OF BROTHELS, THE PROFITING OF A THIRD PARTY FROM THE ACTIVITIES OF A PROSTITUTE, AND VARIOUS PUBLIC NUISANCE ACTS. THE METHODS VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL AND PART-TIME PROSTITUTES USE TO ATTRACT BUSINESS, POLICE ACTION WHEN THE NUISANCE FACTOR BECOMES EXCESSIVE, HANDLING THE COMPLAINTS OF NEIGHBORS, AND VARIOUS COURT DECISIONS RELATING TO PROSTITUTION ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE BRITISH SYSTEM WORKS AS WELL AS ANY. THAT AS LONG AS CUSTOMERS ARE WILLING TO PAY THERE WILL BE PROSTITUTION, AND THAT FORBIDDING IT WILL ONLY DRIVE IT UNDERGOUND AND ALIGN THE PROSTITUTE WITH ORGANIZED CRIME. EXTENSIVE FOOTNOTES GIVE LEGAL CITATIONS AND DOCUMENTATION. A TABLE OF STATUTES IS APPENDED WHICH GIVES APPLICABLE NATIONAL LAWS FOR ENGLAND AND WALES AND SELECTED LOCAL ACTS. A TABLE OF JUDICIAL CASES, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND AN INDEX ARE ALSO INCLUDED. (GLR)