Update: RI Senate passes prostitution bill, 36-2
9:22 PM Thu, Oct 29, 2009 | Permalink
Email
 |
 |
Projo 7 to 7 News BlogTaking the news pulse of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, by Providence Journal and projo.com staff, from 7 to 7, every business day |
|
Get the 7 to 7 on your mobile at www.projo.com. Twitter: projo | RSS | Email alerts
« Update: EP councilman gets letter with powder |
Main
| Assembly passes bill banning strip clubs from hiring minors »
By Lynn Arditi PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Legislation to outlaw indoor prostitution in Rhode Island cleared the Senate floor Thursday night and now heads to the governor's desk where it is expected to be signed into law, possibly by early next week. The measure, which passed in a 36-2 vote, will close a nearly 30-year-old loophole in the state's prostitution law which has made Rhode Island the only place in the country, other than certain counties in Nevada, where prostitution that occurs indoors is not illegal. When the bill becomes law, prostitutes who work in brothels or strip clubs or out of their homes will face the same possibility of criminal prosecution as prostitutes who ply their trade on the streets. The legislation, which the House overwhelmingly approved Wednesday night, passed the Senate amid sobering remarks by supporters who described it as a less-than-perfect compromise on an issue that placed its members in the the middle of a public debate over morality, victims' rights and the quality of life in the nation's smallest state.
Sen. Paul V. Jabour, D-Providence, the Senate bill's sponsor, said on the Senate floor that he and others had been "subject to much ridicule...nasty e-mails, personal attacks...and many threats, against me personally.'' The legislation is "not perfect,'' he said. "...It needs more work, but right now we need a bill." The Senate's original bill would have made prostitution a civil offense, rather than a crime -- an approach which state police likened to a parking ticket. The final version kept the criminal penalties in the House bill, but added the expungement provision. "This bill is not as much a compromise as a prosecutorial prescription,'' said Sen. Rhoda E. Perry, D-Providence, "for criminalizing what law enforcement has been unable to obtain" with enforcement of zoning ordinances and laws against pandering and harboring for prostitution. Sen. Charles J. Levesque, D-Portsmouth, said he feared the legislation was "further punishing" vulnerable women and driving prostitution underground. "I believe (the legislation) will be injurious to the very people we're trying to help," he said. Levesque and Perry cast the dissenting votes. The legislation represents a compromise between the House and Senate after the two chambers tried and failed to reach agreement on a similar measure last May. To appease the Senate, which had favored no criminal penalties for prostitutes, the legislation includes a provision that empowers judges to erase any record of charges of convicted prostitutes -- but not their customers -- after one year. Governor Carcieri, who has been outspoken in his support for a bill to strengthen the laws against prostitution, viewed the expungement provision as a compromise to get the measure passed, said his spokeswoman, Amy Kempe. The governor expects to sign the bill into law when it comes across his desk, she said. The Senate also unanimously passed legislation to strengthen the laws against human trafficking, by making trafficking of minors for sex a felony subject to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $40,000 or both. The measure, which was already approved by the House, also would outlaw trafficking for forced labor. Sen. Rhoda A. Perry, D-Providence, sponsored the Senate bill; Rep. Joanne M. Giannini, of Providence, sponsored the House bill. Here is how the senators voted: Voting yes Voting no SOURCE: Senate roll call (The original version of this story was published at 8:31 p.m. Thursday.) 
CommentsLeave a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
Tags 
New comments
New photos
New posts
Projo blogs
Archives
"Voting no
Levesque, D-Portsmouth
Perry, D-Providence"
Hooray! there are still some people around that believe sex is NOT the governments business!
Sex between consenting adults is NOT a crime, whether the guy pays up front or NOT!
Report Abuse
That's the problem Rick. Alot of these prostitutes are not adults and they're not consenting. You'll still get to hire your prostitutes I'm sure. The difference now is that the cops and FBI will be able to help victims of sex trafficking. Get over yourself.
Report Abuse
This "child prostitute" argument to ban all prostitution is akin to using a "child pornography" argument to ban all pornography.
And, just like child pornography, it's ALREADY illegal to have sex with a child, regardless of whether you pay for it or not. Illegal as in a major rape felony, not the minor offense of prostitution.
The speciousness of these "think of the children" arguments is amazing; the fact that people find them compelling is even more incredible.
Prostitution is legal in Canada, in England, in France, in Germany, in the Netherlands, and countless other places that are *more* civilized and safer than the USA. But then again, those places didn't have the misfortune of being colonized by Puritans.
Report Abuse
Backwards law for a backwards state. This is what happens when you have a bunch of people with an agenda who feel the need to change people's moral values to fit their own. Now we've got people in the State house telling us what to do in our own homes with our own bodies. This isn't progress. This is local goverment taking away our freedoms so that we resemble a country like.Russia. What's next? A controlled internet like China has. So much for America being the land of the free.
I don't even patronize prostitutes. I'm in a loving relationship and it's not my thing. But I do take issue with other people trying to control my life. Especially when they try to tell two consenting adults what they can and can't do behind closed doors. This state has just taken a step in the wrong direction. This is what happens when you have a bunch of conservative Rush Limbaugh wacko types in charge of passing laws. They end up taking away our freedoms. It's disgusting.
Report Abuse
Tori, where do you get your information from?
A book by an "expert" written from the safety of a Hp laptop?
I am an escort. I have never, ever met a 13 yr old hooker.
I'm not saying it isn't out there, but I *Know* that men looking for 13 yr olds, are a different "trade", than the men who hire me (37 yrs old).
The fact that independent girls working in the industry knew about the "CL killer" 16 months before he was allowed to escalate to murder, is proof that girls would rather get robbed, than deal with the police.---So much for your "data'.
You have no real insight into this issue, and just because you've never been inspired to spread your legs for $$$, doesn't mean you know whats best for everybody.
I can't fault you for having your opinion, but pretending like you know a thing or two, when you really don't, just makes you a fraud and a liar.
Try living in the real world : with out mommy and daddy's money, and your diploma, and your education, and your connections...and then little girl, you tell me to "get over my self".
Report Abuse
Isn't The state out of money? Now that this law has been passed we are going to end up spending even more money that we don't have to arrest, house and rehabilitate these "offenders" this is just a diversionary tactic to get people talking about an issue other than the real problems this state faces! I can't believe the stupid RI voters outnumber the intelligent ones. It is actualy sad!
Report Abuse