Prostitution is dangerous hygenically, but far less so than going to a bar and picking up a "one night stand," at least if you go to a legal and regulated brothel.
As far as breeding crime, pimps, and sexual slavery, it's not the legalization of prostitution that causes those: They're the result of keeping prostitution illegal. I've tried to help a number of women get out of prostitution. Some have been successful, others haven't. But in most cases, most of their problems have been brought on by bad previous choices, and they're unable to get out of the situations they found themselves in.
Either through drug use, abusive relationships, or a myriad of other issues, they find the only way to support themselves is through prostitution. And since it's illegal, they have NO protection at all. I've got lots of heartbreaking stories of ladies who have been beaten and robbed by clients (or boyfriends/pimps), and they have no legal recourse. I know a lady who was beaten and raped while trying to help someone jump-start a car. Since she did have a prior prostitution conviction, the police really weren't very concerned with her story, even though she had a bloodied lip, two black eyes, and bruises all over her body. It wasn't until her lawyer threatened to sue the hospital that they agreed to take a "rape kit."
In a more recent situation, a lady who was severely beaten by her "ex-boyfriend" (he didn't mind her prostituting herself, as long as she didn't see any black clients. When she did, he beat her), she tried to defend herself, and actually scratched the guy's face. The police came, and since she had a record of both prostitution and drug use, they arrested her for assault. Even though she was badly bruised, the police took his word that she attacked him, claiming that the bruises were from when a john had beat her the previous week. She bonded out the following day, and asked me to take some digital photos for her to use in court. The judge saw the photos, and issued a warrant for the ex's arrest on assault charges, and he reprimanded the officers.
These are just a few examples of what happens to prostitutes with no protection from the law. In many cases, they're forced to find pimps to "protect them," but pimps are often worse than the johns from whom they're supposed to be protecting the ladies.
When people call prostitution a "victimless crime," I disagree. But the #1 victim is the prostitute herself. And she's made the victim by the laws prohibiting prostitution.
Mark
I thank you for your work. I don't believe it's God's plan for anyone to be in that "biz", but I would like them to stay healthy till they get out.
When people call prostitution a "victimless crime," I disagree. But the #1 victim is the prostitute herself. And she's made the victim by the laws prohibiting prostitution
While that may be, no woman should be forced into it, or even pressured into it. If it is happening in Germany, it can happen here.