Monetary Effects
In countries where prostitution is illegal...
- Billions of dollars are spent on its enforcement. In the United States, law enforcement agencies spend about $2,000 for each prostitution related arrest. As a result the US government spends $120 million a year on prostitution control, which comes from the citizens tax money.
- For example: Germany brings in eighteen billion dollars in revenue per year from prostitution.
- The government will no longer have to spend money to find these sex workers, arrest them, fine them, jail them, and ultimately release them. (Just to spend all that money on the same process again).
- It will also be taxable. So not only will the government stop spending money on arrests, but legalization will create tax revenue. Once the sex workers and brothel owners obtained a license, they may participate in the business and enjoy their legal income that is taxable.
Effects On Prison
Prison overpopulation is a serious issue within the United States.
Legalizing prostitution would lower the amount of people going into prison for having consensual sex in exchange for money. They take the space that is better spent going to a higher level criminal. It makes no sense to send these men or women to jails and letting criminals go because of a lack of space. The roles should be reversed. Although, legalization would not solve the entirety of the problem of prison overcrowding it would reduce the amount of people being sent to prisons in the first place. |
Effects On Crime Rates
There is a correlation between legalizing prostitution and the declining of rape cases.
For example: in 1980 Rhode Island accidentally legalized prostitution. The section that defined prostitution as a crime was mistakenly omitted. No one noticed until 2003, that's over 2 decades. During those 23 years, the size of the sex market increased, however, the amount of rape cases declined by 31%. There was also a 39% decrease in gonorrhea.
For example: in 1980 Rhode Island accidentally legalized prostitution. The section that defined prostitution as a crime was mistakenly omitted. No one noticed until 2003, that's over 2 decades. During those 23 years, the size of the sex market increased, however, the amount of rape cases declined by 31%. There was also a 39% decrease in gonorrhea.
Effects On Children
Child prostitution is a serious global issue. On average within The United States, more than 100,000 children are forced into the sex trade industry. Unfortunately this number rises each year.
- This exists because of the criminalization of adult prostitution. See, pimps use underage women as sex workers. Then when a man contacts a pimp to help him satisfy his sexual urges, he is automatically handed an underage woman.
- It is harder for pimps to force an adult into working the sex trade, adult prostitutes usually will put themselves in this situation or end up there by default.
Effects On Human TraffickingProstitution can be used as a solution to fight human trafficking.
For example: when prostitution was legalized in Germany 10% of human trafficking cases decreased within 10 years. Because of its legalization very few numbers of children are involved in sex trades because they are not forced to join sex trade. |
- An estimated 100 thousand children are forced into prostitution every year in the United States alone.
- Sex trafficking is typically not reported where prostitution is illegal because people who are forced into sex trafficking do not feel comfortable going to the police out of the fear getting arrested, because he or she is also committing a crime. This is why many men and women are unable to speak up for themselves. They are forced to live this lifestyle because it is better than being in prison. Legalizing prostitution would eliminate the possibility of men and women getting arrested for participating in sexual acts, thus allowing them to voice what is going on and making a difference in their lives and the lives of others in the same or similar situations.
Sex workers would be given an opportunity to conduct business on their own, without the control of a pimp, which in turn reduces the possibility of violence and abuse.
References
Devdariani, Saba. The Economics of Prostitution. 06 December 2014. Web.
Haltiwanger, John. Why Legalizing Prostitution Would Make America Healthier, Wealthier And Safer. 19 November 2014. Web.
Listland. Top 10 Reasons Why Prostitution Should Be Legalized. 08 December 2014. Web.
Photos: www.holland.com; www.inquistir.com; www.ballastmag.com; www.propheaven.com; www.bbc.com; de.whitewall.com, www.pledgedecrim.com, www.womensnews.org
Devdariani, Saba. The Economics of Prostitution. 06 December 2014. Web.
Haltiwanger, John. Why Legalizing Prostitution Would Make America Healthier, Wealthier And Safer. 19 November 2014. Web.
Listland. Top 10 Reasons Why Prostitution Should Be Legalized. 08 December 2014. Web.
Photos: www.holland.com; www.inquistir.com; www.ballastmag.com; www.propheaven.com; www.bbc.com; de.whitewall.com, www.pledgedecrim.com, www.womensnews.org