The Prostitution Debate

With Craiglist's recent announcement that it would discontinue its sections on "adult services", we're faced with the question that's as old as the profession itself: should prostitution be legalized? A recent study that was reported on in the Washington Post reveals a lot about the ladies of the night and the men who seek their services, says attorney and LawCrossing.com founder A. Harrison Barnes. Perhaps the first most surprising find in the study is that men, contrary to popular belief, aren't always looking to prostitutes for sex. Some statistics reveal that up to 40% of these arrangements never result in sex. Kind of lends to the whole "Pretty Woman" theory, right? Still, as the LawCrossing.com founder says, it still presents a legal quagmire in the legal profession since it's difficult to prove intent in these cases.Did you know it's now easier, courtesy of the internet, to find a prostitute online than it is to ride through traditional areas known for prostitutes? It's true, says the LawCrossing.com founder. "Studies have shown that for the past decade, this shift has steadily been taking place". Some say the number of street walkers has decreased by up to 50% in some cities since 1999. Another important finding in the study shows that fewer prostitutes are drug addicts these days. "It's become a more high-end marketplace (for lack of better words) for many, especially women, who are determined to play by their own rules", says one Florida attorney. Today's lady of the night still has the Mae West mentality, but only those more "lady-like" nuances and the determination to take charge of her surroundings.There's actually some degree of art imitating life, says Barnes, at least when it comes to how the dynamics between law enforcement and prostitutes. Many mainstream media networks allow for an accurate depiction in shows like the Law & Order franchise, and especially the SVU spin off, of how the two teams become unlikely allies in the hunt for the "bad guys". In Peter Moskos's "Cop in the Hood: My Year Policing Baltimore's Eastern District", he says, "…police often play counselor to sex workers…in my own work, I've found that cops are among the most empathetic and helpful people sex workers meet on the job".  In fact, it's often law enforcement that hands out cards for shelters and where those who live on the streets can find a meal and safety.Finally, all signs point to Craigslist's decision to close its adult services section won't even begin to affect prostitution. There are so many other sites where two (or more) parties can meet under the guise of sex for money. Some statistics say that up to 80% of the calls made to prostitutes found via Craigslist never resulted in any meeting at all. As states and the judicial system as a whole continues to debate whether or not prostitution should be legalized, you can be sure there remain those who will move forward, legal or not.