Prostitution should be legalized. Check the women weekly and keep it off the streets.

Prosititution is illegal and until the laws are changed they must be enforced the same for all people from all walks of life. Sex is not illegal in this country but sex for money is. Enforce the laws and be done with it.

I think US should legallize the prostitution industry. Why?, this kind of thing happen since the earth formed and happen from east to west, so deal with it and legalize it. If it legalize, I believe it will a good for woman. They will not be abuse by a pimp and they can be chek up for their health. If the society accept this as a way to earn for living from people,who has chosen their path, then ok. I pesonal ok for that, as long as people doing it they are not feel bad for what they are doing. Thus, accept it and legalize it.

I think US should legallize the prostitution industry. Why?, this kind of thing happen since the earth formed and happen from east to west, so deal with it and legalize it. If it legalize, I believe it will a good for woman. They will not be abuse by a pimp and they can be chek up for their health. If the society accept this as a way to earn for living from people,who has chosen their path, then ok. I pesonal ok for that, as long as people doing it they are not feel bad for what they are doing. Thus, accept it and legalize it.

Prostitution os a huge industry and they will never stop it.. If it is legalized it would probably be safer for the women and they will also be part of the working people and have to pay taxes.

I believe prostitution, should be legalized. Some men have problems getting women, either because of their looks, or because they have a bad self image of themselves, and still others don't even want sex, they just want companionship with a beautiful woman. But because the govornment, makes money off of things that are illegal (raids of cash, and auctioning property),for now are not going to legalize it. But the govornment can make money through taxing the service being provided. It is sad though that they would rather support abortion, or war. If a man is going to cheat then he is going to cheat. By having the state running it, women who are providing the service, are safer. Less STD, would occur, to the spouse. The one main reason it is not legalized is because of Conservative Christianity. If prostitution got legalized I would never have to be in a relationship. Being in a relationship is having to pay for it either in time, or money (birthdays, holidays, and so on).

"So how would you feel if you raised a beautiful, smart girl, nurtured her through high school and college, and then she became a prostitute? Really?"
-Tam

Probably just as disappointed as I would be if my daughter became a politician or a reporter.

By and large prostitution, along with drugs, abortion, tobacco use or sexual preference are matters of personal choice and a simple exercise in personal freedom.
None of which should be legislated in a country that boasts to the world of its dedication to the life, liberty and entitlement of the pursuit of happiness by its people.
Once again, we say one thing and do quite another.

There is a vast difference between those (both women and men) who are forced into this line of work, and those who do it of their own free will. A person's body is theirs to do with as they like. It does not belong the state.

In any event, prostitution has always existed and always will. If 13% of men and 1.4% of women admit to having exchanged sex for money, you can bet the real figures are 2-3 times greater. How many new prisons do we want to build to jail 10% or more of the populace for engaging in paid sex.

Slavery is against the law, as well it should be. Save enforcement for situations were people are forced to do this against their will, and leave everyone else the hell alone. Use the vice cops to fight terrorism and street crime.

Interesting. A high-status male is suggesting that high-status prostitution be made legal. When the "elite" are involved, it is somehow different from when the lower class do it--note Paris Hilton and DUI. Never mind that it continues the age-old idea that women are "playthings"--to be rented just as one might rent a car on a vacation.

America should legalize prostitution and drug use. That's the only solution to keeping Democrats satisfied.

Ron Weitzer is not advocating class bias in enforcement. He separates street prostitution from indoor prostitution, and the latter includes modest income (massage parlors, brothels) to higher (escorts, call girls). We have different policies based on the public / private distinction (in other areas) so this is worth considering for prostitution as well. Street prostitution differs so fundamentally from indoor prostitution, that we need different policies for each.

I cannot believe I read this headline on the website of a major news corporation.

First of all, perhaps ABC is unfamiliar with the constitution, but we treat all people equally under the law in this country. The rich do not get special laws just for them because they commit their crimes indoors with nice furniture and carpeting.

Secondly, prostitution is against the law for very good reasons. If you think really really hard for a minute you might even be able to come up with some of them.

The fact that this is even ON your website tells me that someone at the top of ABC has been visiting prostitutes and is looking for to get out of the embarassment on a technicality. Sorry guy, you blew it. Confess to your wife and move on. Stop trying to drag the rest of us down to the level of what you did.

Prostitution is NOT a victimless crime. An hour of research on the Internet will turn up plenty of research on that fact, but if you just look in your heart, you will know it is true.

Money is a symbol of coercion. People are willing to do many things when they are lured with the promise of money. Renting out your body (or selling any part of your body -kidney, liver, vagina, etc) should never be condoned by society as it is an exploitation of those who are in such a position that they aren't able to see the harm, only the potential money. It certainly wouldn't be the rich rushing out to sell sex (or body organs) were it to be legalized -they don't need the money. If they just enjoy having sex or donating their organs -guess what? They can do that right now! If men and women want to have sex with multiple people they are free to do so, when one person is receiving money to do so therein lies the element of coercion. Just as there is nothing wrong with someone donating a body organ to help a fellow human, there is a definite problem with someone being allowed to sell any part of themselves. What an absolute mess we would be in if these things were legalized in any way. And I'm definitely not talking about the moral aspect of it, only the human aspect. People are not animals to be bought and sold, in whole or in part. There are many things we do only because we know we'll get money to do it, having sex should be an activity that is only done in the context of no such lure.

The comments on this topic include some from several ladies in the profession and some studies suggesting that the market is anything but insignificant but there seems to be none from any men willing to admit to being buyers in that market.

And that is a shame, as it seems that Ms. Palfrey’s problems – and many of Society’s ills related to the profession itself as well – would be obviated if all of her putative clients – and those of other Agencies – were to categorically state to the Courts that, as far as they were concerned, no crime had been committed – a petition I would be quite happy to sign. The relevant principle should be one stated in Roman law some 1800 years ago – just as valid now as then – to the effect that “No injustice is done to someone who wants that thing done”. Or, presumably, who clearly states they want that thing done or will allow that thing to be done.

And while several of the contrary comments including a point made by Tam – that “Prostitution is illegal for a reason. It hurts people” – have their validity, it seems unwise to argue that they are categorically true in all cases.

Similarly, my own experiences as, and reasons for being, a client are not necessarily or likely to be the case for all. But my experiences have been that many of the ladies, in the words of one, aver they have the best job in the world. In addition their experiences with other clients as well suggest a value to them / us that is substantially over and above any physical dimension.

Obviously, the relationships can have all the emotional content of getting your hair cut or your oil changed which, of course, are not without their own value. But if one can treat the ladies with the requisite respect and consideration and has a modicum of intellectual and emotional honesty the connections made can be worth quite a bit more than that. Inexpensive at twice the price.

And I have a hard time trying to understand how some people can consider any of that as a crime and can thereby stigmatize or discriminate against any of the parties in those relationships – though “Exploitation” is frequently given as the motivation for that attitude. But we all use, and generally we seek to be of use to, each other; the question is whether we can humanely do so.

We need only look to Amsterdam for a case study in legalization. Prices go way down. 20 minutes with a window girl will cost you on average 50 Euro ($63) vs. the D.C. madam's girls at $300 for the 90 minutes of materbation show it sounds like.

Victimless crime? Reality check guys. High end hookers can have STD's too. The victim will be unknowing wife or girlfriend that comes up with genital herpes. I'm only in favor of something like this if there are strict health checks like in Nevada's legal brothels.

Private Consensual Sexwork is a victimless crime. I have been an independent companion for the last two years. I have never felt coerced, degraded, or threatened by a client, only by the society who claims to "protect".
The majority of my clients are beautiful men in need of a bit of nurturing, mutual touch, honest communication and relaxation through sexual tension release. In our fast paced world, human interaction is often overlooked. When my clients come to visit, I have set aside a full hour of my undivided attention. The human exchange that happens on multiple levels is truly rewarding for myself as well as my clients and it is within clearly defined boundaries.
If it were only sex they were seeking, a Playboy and their hand would be alot cheaper.
Decriminalize Private Consensual Sexwork/Humanwork!

I love these upper middle-class women posting here telling me what psychological harm I caused to myself during my provider years. I made a lot of money, bought property and funded a long-term business opportunity. Stop with projecting how you would feel with 'multiple people inside you each day'. It's my body, my mind and I'll do with each the way I see fit. Worry about yourself and leave working women alone.

What a load of bunk. Just because a few women survive incest with their self esteem intact, should we now say that there is nothing wrong with incest.

Maybe the former prostitutes posting here really are who they say they are and maybe they are pimps trying to make the case. It really doesn't matter. ANY of you can visit prostitutes in your own town for a few days and see for yourself what you think. Any of you can go to the legal brothels in Nevada and see the gross conditions there and the gross men who run them.