NYT: "Manhattan to Stop Prosecuting Prostitution"

[RyanDean]

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/21/nyregion/manhattan-to-stop-prosecuting-prostitution.html

[+ tassojunior]

you mean for everyone, not just politicians and the rich?

[cany10011]

How will that impact rates?

[+ FrankR]

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/21/nyregion/manhattan-to-stop-prosecuting-prostitution.html

This part is interesting: “The office will continue to prosecute other crimes related to prostitution, including patronizing sex workers and sex trafficking.”

 

I read this to mean the sex workers wont face prosecution...but the client may. ?

[RyanDean]

sex workers wont face prosecution...but the client may. ?

 

Yep. It's not legalization, but a shift in who's at greater risk for being arrested. (And put another way: nothing to disrupt FESTA/SESTA regulations, re websites.)

[+ MysticMenace]

How will that impact rates?

 

I would think it's still whatever the market rate is - though not sure which lever actually goes up more - the demand (more consumers going in because there's less fear of prosecution) or the supply (more providers signing up if potential prosecution is what mostly kept them from signing up on sites to begin with).

[+ Coolwave35]

Next 10 years... decriminalization

[Islesguy]

Eliza Orlins, a former Survivor contestant, is running for Manhattan DA and has a thorough decriminalization plan for prostitution. No charging anyone involved in consensual sex work.

[+ José Soplanucas]

This part is interesting: “The office will continue to prosecute other crimes related to prostitution, including patronizing sex workers and sex trafficking.”

 

I read this to mean the sex workers wont face prosecution...but the client may. ?

 

Did you read the following paragraph?

 

"That means, in effect, that the office will continue to prosecute pimps and sex traffickers, as well as people who pay for sex, continuing to fight those who exploit or otherwise profit from prostitution without punishing the people who for decades have borne the brunt of law enforcement’s attention."

[+ FrankR]

Did you read the following paragraph?

 

"That means, in effect, that the office will continue to prosecute pimps and sex traffickers, as well as people who pay for sex, continuing to fight those who exploit or otherwise profit from prostitution without punishing the people who for decades have borne the brunt of law enforcement’s attention."

I didnt see that part - the article was updated in the afternoon, perhaps it was added. But yes, that does clarify things a bit.

[dutchal]

This is just one slice of the issue. This is just one county and only state law. Remember, rentboy got taken down by the feds.

[lonely_john]

How will that impact rates?

I would think it's still whatever the market rate is - though not sure which lever actually goes up more - the demand (more consumers going in because there's less fear of prosecution) or the supply (more providers signing up if potential prosecution is what mostly kept them from signing up on sites to begin with).

I agree. There could be an initial frenzy and avg rate decrease caused by new guys entering the market but eventually, prices would return to normal ranges, from the hustlers that charge $50 for a sucky-sucky, to the high-end guys who charge $600+/hr. Because the reality is that not everyone can be an escort, even if they want. And let's not talk about the guys who want to be escorts because they think that they will be paid to fuck only attractive people or their identical twins.

[Luv2play]

I agree. There could be an initial frenzy and avg rate decrease caused by new guys entering the market but eventually, prices would return to normal ranges, from the hustlers that charge $50 for a sucky-sucky, to the high-end guys who charge $600+/hr. Because the reality is that not everyone can be an escort, even if they want. And let's not talk about the guys who want to be escorts because they think that they will be paid to fuck only attractive people or their identical twins.

I would think it's still whatever the market rate is - though not sure which lever actually goes up more - the demand (more consumers going in because there's less fear of prosecution) or the supply (more providers signing up if potential prosecution is what mostly kept them from signing up on sites to begin with).

I dunno. The shift in emphasis to prosecuting johns could have a chilling effect. Also it could potentially expose clients to blackmail threats.

 

They changed the law in Canada some time back to this approach but it doesn't seem to have changed much since so much of the trade is carried over the Internet now.

[thedanNYC]

This is just one slice of the issue. This is just one county and only state law. Remember, rentboy got taken down by the feds.

 

In 99% of cases, run-of-the-mill prostitution (the picking up someone off the streets variety) is not a federal-law issue. So local decisions to stop prosecuting prostitution is all that's needed to keep ordinary sex workers from going to jail. The new policy is clearly going to benefit a lot of people, given that the DA is seeking the dismissal of >5,000 cases involving charges of prostitution or of loitering for the purpose of prostitution.

[Walker1]

In 99% of cases, run-of-the-mill prostitution (the picking up someone off the streets variety) is not a federal-law issue. So local decisions to stop prosecuting prostitution is all that's needed to keep ordinary sex workers from going to jail. The new policy is clearly going to benefit a lot of people, given that the DA is seeking the dismissal of >5,000 cases involving charges of prostitution or of loitering for the purpose of prostitution.

Not if they go after the people who hire like us. In some places, I believe they seize cars if it is used in hiring. So this may make it worse.

[thedanNYC]

Not if they go after the people who hire like us. In some places, I believe they seize cars if it is used in hiring. So this may make it worse.

 

Right, this policy is only meant to benefit sex workers. People who hire sex workers may still be prosecuted.

Edited April 22, 2021 by thedanNYC

[coriolis888]

-

Right, this policy is only meant to benefit sex workers. People who hire sex workers may still be prosecuted.

-

 

Correct.

 

Thus, the New York Times article -

 

"Manhattan to Stop Prosecuting Prostitution, Part of Nationwide Shift"

 

Is quite misleading.

 

It is like clapping with one hand. Little to no effect on the overall activity of prostitution.