NCJ Number
28042
Date Published
1974
Length
167 pages
Annotation
HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE THAT PROSTITUTION HAS PLAYED IN WESTERN SOCIETY AND EXAMINATION OF THE EXISTING STATE OF SOCIETAL REGULATION OF PROSTITUTION THROUGH THE PASSAGE AND ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS.
Abstract
A DISCUSSION OF THE HISTORICAL, RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL, AND MEDICAL ASPECTS OF PROSTITUTION IS FOLLOWED BY CONSIDERATION OF STATE PROSTITUTION LAWS AND THE ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IN THEIR EFFORTS AT THE LEGAL CONTROL OF PROSTITUTION. QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES OF JUDGES, PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS, AND CHIEFS OF POLICE OR VICE SQUAD MEMBERS REVEALED A GREAT DEAL OF DISAGREEMENT AND AMBIVALENCE AMONG THESE AUTHORITIES ABOUT THE ACTUAL EXTENT OF AND EFFECTS OF PROSTITUTION. THE JUDGES AND LAWYERS TENDED TO BE LESS NEGATIVE IN THEIR CRITICISM OF THE PROFESSION OF PROSTITUTION THAN WERE THE POLICE OFFICERS. THE CONSENSUS WAS THAT PROSTITUTES HAD TO BE TOLERATED AS MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY, WOMEN DID NOT HAVE EXCLUSIVE CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN BODIES WHEN USED IN WAYS THAT VIOLATE THE LAW, PROSTITUTION WAS A MORAL, NOT CRIMINAL, PROBLEM, AND NO USEFUL FUNCTION COULD BE SERVED BY THE PROSTITUTE. A COPY OF THE ATTITUDES QUESTIONNAIRE USED IN THE STUDY AND A THREE-PAGE SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE APPENDED.