Prostitution (H 5044, S 596)

Capitulating to a strong push to close a so-called “loophole” in state law that made indoor prostitution legal, the General Assembly passed a bill that includes not only jail time for first-time offenders, but also a forfeiture provision that will deprive women of any monies or possessions derived from income earned as a prostitute, making it all that much harder for them to avoid recidivism.  The ACLU and women's rights groups objected to the bill, noting that there were four felony statutes already on the books that allowed the police to arrest traffickers, pimps and any other individual profiting from prostitution, and that the only effect of “closing the loophole” will be to subject more women to arrest and prison time.