The Prohibition of Indoor Prostitution in Rhode Island

The Prohibition of Indoor Prostitution in Rhode Island

Human trafficking is a major problem in our nation and throughout the world, and victims are put through challenges and abused on a daily basis. Human trafficking can start as indoor prostitution, but can evolve to put the life of the victim at stake. Bill H5044/S0596 discusses commercial sexual activity, or prostitution, in any location. Rhode Island had a loophole law that made indoor prostitution legal. This bill reversed that law and made indoor prostitution illegal. This bill created a penalty for those that try to obtain sexual services from a prostitute and also penalizes those that allow prostitution on their property or gain any benefit from the sexual activity. This bill, known as "the indoor prostitution bill" was signed by Governor Donald Carcieri, and some major advocates of the bill were Representative Joanne Giannini, Senator Paul Jabour, (former) State Police Colonel Brenden Doherty and (former) Attorney General Patrick Lynch. The bill was signed into law on November 3, 2009. This bill ended legal indoor prostitution.

The research I will be performing is based on the question "do bills, such as RI Senate Bill S0569 (bills criminalizing indoor prostitution), that are intended to reduce prostitution in the state, help victims of prostitution and trafficking or penalize victims?" I will also focus on whether this bill reduces the amount of prostitution in the state and whether or not those caught prostituting should be punished or rehabilitated? Another focus is does the criminalization of prostitution improve or worsen the issue of prostitution in our nation. Bill S0596/H5044 discusses commercial sexual activity, referred to as prostitution, in any location. There was a loophole law in Rhode Island that made indoor prostitution legal for several years. In 2009, this bill was signed making indoor prostitution illegal and penalizing those that try to obtain sexual services, those who allow prostitution on their property, and those who gain any benefit from the commercial sexual activity. The bill has many supporters, but there is also a lot of opposition to the bill. This is not because opponents of the passage are pro-prostitution, but because they feel that it is less dangerous and more important to help the victims of prostitution than to punish them. These bills sometimes make prostitution more dangerous and force people to stay in prostitution instead of improving their quality of life.

I am undertaking this research topic because this bill really affects some of the women in the state of Rhode Island. Legal issues throughout Rhode Island have always caught my attention, and a law like this can be positively effective or negatively effective, both of which will change the shape of Rhode Island's legal system. This law can either help women get out of the business of indoor prostitution,