The State Of California Should Legalize Prostitution ✓ Solved

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The State of California should legalize prostitution. This presentation will define the current harms to the status quo, explore the causes of the problem, present a plan of action, examine how this plan will alleviate the harms, and explore additional benefits to making prostitution legal.

There are two major reasons why keeping prostitution illegal hurts the status quo: it harms the health of Californians and it wastes resources.

Harm 1: Keeping prostitution illegal hurts the health of Californians. According to the August 1, 2012 New York Times, over half of all sexually transmitted diseases are originally passed through the act of prostitution. Prostitutes don’t have access to quality healthcare.

Harm 2: Keeping prostitution illegal is a drain on resources. Prostitutes clog emergency rooms and clinics. The February 2013 Mother Jones notes that police resources are wasted as arrests of prostitutes and customers clog jails and slow down the justice system.

The causes stem from a structural inherency where current laws no longer deter the behavior. Prostitution can’t be regulated because of its illegal nature.

The Plan of Action involves the State of California mandating Congress to pass a bill that legalizes prostitution. Zoning laws will be created to ensure prostitution does not occur within city limits or a five-mile radius of schools and churches. A Workers Union will be established requiring prostitutes to be members, granting them licenses and providing healthcare plans. Condom use will be mandatory, and each worker must be tested for STDs every 45 days, with fines imposed for violations.

This plan provides immediate solvency through various methods: Mandatory testing and condom usage will protect health, reduce strain on ERs and the justice system, and ultimately leads to additional benefits like control over human trafficking and increased tax revenue.

Paper For Above Instructions

Prostitution remains a contentious issue in California, with proponents arguing for its legalization as a means to improve public health and allocate resources more efficiently. The proposal to legalize prostitution in California can potentially address two significant harms: the adverse effects on public health and the misallocation of law enforcement resources.

Firstly, the illegal status of prostitution has detrimental consequences for the health of Californian citizens. As indicated by the New York Times (2012), a significant percentage of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are attributed to prostitution. Prostitution, being clandestine, leaves sex workers vulnerable to health issues due to a lack of access to quality medical care. Legalizing prostitution would facilitate regulatory measures that ensure sex workers undergo regular health checks, thus reducing the spread of STIs. Mandating periodic testing for STIs every 45 days, as proposed, could greatly minimize the transmission rates of infections associated with prostitution, as noted by the Progressive.org (2010). This would foster a healthier community and combat the public health crises currently exacerbated by the illegal nature of the trade.

Secondly, the enforcement of current laws on prostitution is wasteful and counterproductive. Law enforcement agencies often spend valuable resources arresting sex workers and their clients, which clogs jails and strains the judicial system (Mother Jones, 2013). Legalizing and regulating prostitution would enable law enforcement to redirect their focus toward more significant criminal activities such as trafficking. Arrest rates may diminish, alleviating the backlog in the justice system. The resources currently funneled into arresting sex workers could be reallocated to preventive and supportive measures, improving community health and safety.

A well-structured plan is critical to ensure that legalization does not lead to further exploitation or health risks. The proposal to establish a Workers Union empowers sex workers by providing them with rights, access to healthcare, and a formal structure to advocate for their needs. By requiring union membership, the plan establishes a system where sex workers are licensed and regulated, thus offering protection and improving their working conditions. Furthermore, the introduction of zoning laws will strategically place areas for legal sex work away from schools and residential zones, reducing the visibility of the trade while fostering a controlled environment.

The economic impacts of legalizing prostitution are also noteworthy. By instituting a tax framework for sex work, the state would generate additional revenue that can be funneled into public health initiatives and education programs. Such measures can help mitigate the societal harms often associated with the trade while ensuring that sex workers contribute to the economy. Moreover, the resulting shift towards a regulated environment can reduce incidents of human trafficking, as oversight can lead to better monitoring and enforcement against exploitation.

In conclusion, legalizing prostitution in California presents a viable path towards enhancing public health and optimizing resource allocation. By implementing a comprehensive regulatory framework, the state can address the existing harms to both the health of Californians and the current mismanagement of law enforcement resources. Just as important, the establishment of a supportive Workers Union and strategic zoning laws will protect sex workers while simultaneously contributing to community health and safety. Therefore, it is essential to consider these advantages carefully as California debates the future of prostitution and public policy.

References

  • Mother Jones. (2013). The resources wasted on enforcing anti-prostitution laws.
  • New York Times. (2012). The link between prostitution and sexually transmitted diseases.
  • Progressive.org. (2010). How health regulations can mitigate STI transmission in sex work.
  • Smith, M. (2018). Legalizing prostitution: Lessons from European models. Journal of Law & Policy.
  • Jones, T. (2019). The economic impact of legalized sex work. Economic Review.
  • Adams, R. (2020). A public health perspective on sex work legalization. Health Affairs.
  • Department of Public Health. (2021). Sexual health statistics in California.
  • Crespin, J. (2020). Prostitution, health, and human rights: Reassessing public policy.
  • Institute for Justice. (2020). Criminalization of sex work: A resource allocation perspective.
  • California State Legislative Analyst's Office. (2021). The fiscal effects of legalized sex work.

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