“I believe California is the only state that has outlawed prosecuting victims of child sex trafficking as adult prostitutes...and I recall an awful lot of FReepers were outraged over that idea.”
California’s progressive policy actually hinders law enforcement from helping underage sex trafficking victims. Generally, when underage prostitutes are arrested, they receive help. Even if charges actually were made, and such victims were convicted of a crime—which I believe is never the case—as minors such convictions would be sealed and have no bearing on their future in terms of jobs, loans, financial aid for school, security clearances, etc.
If you are going to take away the ability to arrest them for prostitution, there better be some legal tool in place to take them into protective custody. I think California failed to do so. Thus, outrage from conservatives is a reasonable response.
Unfortunately, there are some on this forum who believe prostitution is a victimless crime.
The problem with arresting underage girls is that their pimps can then pay bail for them and then they get released to the pimps who get them out of the area ASAP.
Give them help but don’t put them in adult jails and subject them to adult prosecutions when too often they’re kidnap victims who need to be restored to their families.