Legalizing Prostitution Research Paper

Words: 428
Pages: 2

Prostitution is one of the most controversial matters in the United States. Should prostitution be allowed? Or should it stay banned with no intention of becoming decriminalized or legal? Some researchers have confirmed prostitution is undeniably the oldest profession going back to ancient times, but other’s will dispute that it is not, yet everybody agrees paying for sexual favors has been around for a very long time. There will forever be a demand for the services that it offers, prostitution will be present in some form no matter what happens in society. If prostitution were to be made legal, there would a decline in sex crimes and reduction in STD’s, citizens would have the freedom to choose this line of work for a source of legitimate …show more content…
One way legalized prostitution can provide a safer environment is by decreasing crime. The strict laws prohibiting prostitution has affected a number of woman and forcing them to work on the street. Forcing prostitution underground only puts the working girls at risk to be raped and harassed and feel that they have no one to call for help in fear of going to jail and getting a ticket or worse. In a study written in 2004 by Dr. Kirby R. Cundiff, “Prostitution and Sex Crimes”, he reported, “It is estimated that if prostitution were legalized in the United States, the rape rate would decrease by roughly 25% for a decrease of approximately 25,000 rapes per year...” (Cundiff 2). Cundiff’s study also goes into detail of statistics of the ‘Rape Rates’ for country around the world who either legalized or decriminalized Prostitution or made it illegal. The United States ‘Rape Rate’ is the highest out of the specified countries at 32.05. The lowest country on the list is Portugal and prostitution is legal in that country. He concluded that the rape rate would be lower if prostitutes were more readily available and was legal to seek them out. Stopping rape in prostitution will also fight the sexual transmitted disease rate in the