Essay, Research Paper: Prostitution

What is prostitution? Prostitution is the
After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

This is from section one of the eighteenth amendment of the constitution, making alcohol illegal in the United States. To this day it is still the only amendment ever to be repealed. Why didn't prohibition work? Because you can't take away the publics right to sin and to live there lives the way they see fit. The same thing can be said for prostitution, which like alcohol consumption or gambling, is a "victimless crime."

Many say that one of the main reasons prostitution is illegal is because it might bring a "bad element" to the area that it takes place in, but if we look at other countries and cities that allow it this couldn't be further from the truth. Rollin M. Perkins author of the book Criminal Law, sites that while our government fights the war on prostitution attempting to make it completely illegal, other major countries such as England and Scotland only regulate the industry. Does this make crime run rampant in these other countries? Well England's crime rate is significantly lower than that of the United States, in fact a recent study showed that there are more murders in New York city in one day alone, than in all of one year in England.

Contrary to popular belief prostitution is illegal in only forty-nine of our countries fifty states. In Carson City and Reno Nevada prostitution is legal but still regulated. There are houses on the outskirts of these two cities often referred to as "brothels" in which soliciting prostitution is as legal as going out to eat for dinner. The government requires that these houses be licensed, taxed, and even given a "health inspection" just like a restaraunt, and once a month a government appointed official will test every employee for Aids and other major sexually transmitted diseases. Every customer must use protection, and each brothel is protected by security guards as well as video cameras on the outside of the house, to insure no harm to the customers or the girls.

Now I ask what is wrong with this? Crime in these two cities is no greater than in that of any other, and while many may have moral objections to these businesses, it is still every American's constitutional right to create there own opinion of what is right or wrong.

Instead our Government has decided to continually fight prostitution even if it means ignoring its citizens right to due process. Recently a thirty-year-old Minnesota man was arrested for allegedly soliciting prostitution. Despite the fact that he hasn't even been convicted yet or even gone to trial, the St. Paul Police Department posted his name and picture on the Internet for all to see. (Which included his family, co-workers, and neighbors) Columnist Courtney Macavinta believes that this is a very controversial act:

For law enforcement agencies, the Net provides a new venue to increase public awareness and deter crime through, among other things, humiliation. In addition,
local newspapers increasingly publish daily stories online, including crime headlines.
Still, cyberspace also makes this local information instantly global, sparking some debate over accused and convicted criminals' privacy. Perhaps more significantly, the trend brings up old questions about how crime reports should be handled in order to minimize harm to those who haven't been proven guilty, while making public information truly accessible.

The issue of public record information being put online is probably the most difficult policy decision we will face. It presents choices between privacy rights and First Amendment rights. I'm not convinced that the (prostitution-related arrests) are situations in which we need to make the information global. There is a real potential for damage to a person's reputation when we're talking about arrest information.

Our government is completely contradicting itself. It says we have freedom of religion and to decide our own moral beliefs, as well as the right to due process. Yet when it comes to prostitution our government throws these rights, right out the window.

Even recent polls have shown that most people are in favor of legalization of prostitution throughout the country believing that it would free the courts and police to spend more time dealing with more serious and violent crimes. Also many don't understand the fairness of many states only penalizing the prostitutes but not their clients as well.

I believe prostitution should be allowed only in certain areas where other vices such as legalized gambling are already tolerated. In designated areas such as Las Vegas, Hollywood Park, or on Indian reservations would there be brothels, and they would also be subject to the same tax and strict health codes that the other brothels in Carson City and Reno, Nevada already face. This way our police department and judicial system would save time and money, we could make more money by taxing the industry, and our government could stop contradicting itself with its unconstitutional laws and regulations towards this "victimless crime."
Our government is completely contradicting itself. It says we have freedom of religion and to decide our own moral beliefs, as well as the right to due process. Yet when it comes to prostitution our government throws these rights, right out the window.

Even recent polls have shown that most people are in favor of legalization of prostitution throughout the country believing that it would free the courts and police to spend more time dealing with more serious and violent crimes. Also many don't understand the fairness of many states only penalizing the prostitutes but not their clients as well.

I believe prostitution should be allowed only in certain areas where other vices such as legalized gambling are already tolerated. In designated areas such as Las Vegas, Hollywood Park, or on Indian reservations would there be brothels, and they would also be subject to the same tax and strict health codes that the other brothels in Carson City and Reno, Nevada already face. This way our police department and judicial system would save time and money, we could make more money by taxing the industry, and our government could stop contradicting itself with its unconstitutional laws and regulations towards this "victimless crime."
The legalization of prostitution would be beneficial to America. Since prostitution is a victimless crime we should stop putting so much time, effort, and money into prostitution enforcement and put it towards something more useful. If prostitution were legalized then it would be considered a job. Therefore they would be required to pay taxes. The government could then use the money to educate children about the dangers of unsafe sex in today's society.
Safety is also another factor to be looked at. By legalizing prostitution the government would be able to regulate it so that the proper public health measures to control diseases take place. Condoms can also be a requirement just like doctors are required to wear rubber gloves in order to prevent the spread of disease. Check ups would enable the prostitute to continue their profession. They would not be able to obtain a prostitution license if they didn't meet the proper requirements. Thus making this profession less risky to both the employee (prostitute) as well as the customer.
For as long as people have both money and sexual frustration some will continue to pay others to satisfy them. Most people would not be effected by the legalization of prostitution. I mean if you don't want to make money by giving others sexual gratification or you don't want to pay for it then it is your choice. Others, however, feel that it is all right to "please" others for money so there's no need to stand in their way. It's their life, let them live it how they want to.


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