Decriminalization of Victimless Crime
Elizabeth Morgan March 25, 2014
SOC 103 Critical thinking #1
Should so-called victimless crimes, such as prostitution and recreational drug use, be decriminalized? Do these crimes harm society?
Laws exist within societies to deter and restrict people from harming one another and trampling on others ' inalienable rights. Crimes such as recreational drug use and prostitution do not directly harm other people, yet in the eyes of the law they are villified due to the possible consequences associated with a lifestyle filled with drug use and promiscuous sex. Should these supposed “victimless” crimes be allowed to go on unpunished even though they may still cause collateral damage? More importantly, does the government have the right to intervene with one 's behavior if it does not affect others? A better way to look at it would be to examine the efforts made to decriminalize these acts and the effects it has had on society. Prostitution is one of the oldest professions in the world and it is not likely to go away anytime soon. Just like any other job, it is a way for people to make a living and it has a supply and demand. Unfortunately, sex workers have terrible work environments. They are subjected to working in unsafe neighborhoods and the threat of violence is always near. Many are raped, abused and murdered while working on their own. If prostitution were decriminalized and regulated, we could decrease the negative consequences of being a sex worker. Legalized brothels in Las Vegas control and monitor their workers and customers much like other businesses. Sex workers are regularly tested and contraception is employed to avoid the transmittance of sexually transmitted infections and diseases. Services are also conducted in safe environments to eliminate the risk of violence. Although prostitution is certainly a less than ideal profession, it
SOC 103 Critical thinking #1
Should so-called victimless crimes, such as prostitution and recreational drug use, be decriminalized? Do these crimes harm society?
Laws exist within societies to deter and restrict people from harming one another and trampling on others ' inalienable rights. Crimes such as recreational drug use and prostitution do not directly harm other people, yet in the eyes of the law they are villified due to the possible consequences associated with a lifestyle filled with drug use and promiscuous sex. Should these supposed “victimless” crimes be allowed to go on unpunished even though they may still cause collateral damage? More importantly, does the government have the right to intervene with one 's behavior if it does not affect others? A better way to look at it would be to examine the efforts made to decriminalize these acts and the effects it has had on society. Prostitution is one of the oldest professions in the world and it is not likely to go away anytime soon. Just like any other job, it is a way for people to make a living and it has a supply and demand. Unfortunately, sex workers have terrible work environments. They are subjected to working in unsafe neighborhoods and the threat of violence is always near. Many are raped, abused and murdered while working on their own. If prostitution were decriminalized and regulated, we could decrease the negative consequences of being a sex worker. Legalized brothels in Las Vegas control and monitor their workers and customers much like other businesses. Sex workers are regularly tested and contraception is employed to avoid the transmittance of sexually transmitted infections and diseases. Services are also conducted in safe environments to eliminate the risk of violence. Although prostitution is certainly a less than ideal profession, it
Bibliography: Kain, Erik. "Ten Years After Decriminalization." Forbes Magazine. Forbes, 5 July 2011. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. .