Child Prostitution in America

Introduction

Child prostitution in America is increasingly popular. It is necessary to change this situation, because it is immoral. Child prostitution is one of the most serious social problems in America.

History Of Prostitution

Beginning about 1910, religious and civic organizations in the U.S. developed a nationwide campaign against both the immorality of prostitution and its relationship to sexually transmitted disease. On the federal level, Congress passed the White Slave Traffic Act forbidding the interstate transport of women and girls for immoral purposes. On the local level, many anti-prostitution laws were passed. Some laws reflected the belief that prostitutes were misguided, coerced unfortunates who needed rehabilitation and protection from procurers. Others represented the view that prostitutes were morally or mentally inferior human beings. Although both kinds of laws still exist, the latter type is enforced today.

Prostitution in the U.S. in the late 20th century takes various forms. Some prostitutes, or call girls, operate out of their own apartments and maintain a list of regular customers. Some follow convention circuits or work in certain resorts areas, such as Las Vegas, Nevada, where demand for their services is high. Others work in so-called massage parlors, a newer version of the old-time brothel. The majority are “streetwalkers”, soliciting, or being solicited by, customers on city streets. Increasing numbers are young runaways to the city who turn to the streets for survival. Because the statues are enforced in such a way as to punish overtness and visibility rather than any specific act, almost all of the prostitutes arrested each year are streetwalkers. Customers, although legally culpable, are rarely arrested.

Until the 1960’s, attitudes toward prostitution were based on the Judeo-Christian view of immortality. Researchers have recently attempted to separate moral issues from the reality of prostitution. The rationale for its continued illegal status in the U.S. rests on three assumptions: prostitution is responsible for much ancillary crime; and prostitution is the cause of an increase in sexually transmittted disease. These assumptions are now the question.

Recognized experts have pointed out that prostitution is no longer an attractive investment for organized crime because it is difficult to control, is too visible, and affords too small a return compared to the severe penalties for procuring. It is obvious that ancillary crime-larency, robbery, assault, and misuse of narcotics does occur in conjunction with prostitution, especially when a streetwalker is involved. Whether it is rational to make one activity criminal in order to reduce or control another merits serious inquiry.