California Bill on Street Loitering for Prostitution
California progressives are opposing a new bill that would recriminalize street loitering for prostitution, while law enforcement agencies support it to combat human trafficking and prostitution. The bill aims to protect victims of human trafficking and punish those involved in soliciting prostitutes for sex.
Key Points
- SB 1219 aims to offer resources to victims of human trafficking
- SB 357, the existing law, has led to unintended consequences like an increase in human trafficking activity
- Law enforcement agencies support SB 1219 to combat prostitution and human trafficking
Pros
- Protecting victims of human trafficking
- Cracking down on prostitution and sex trafficking
- Creating penalties for loiterers and motorists soliciting prostitutes
Cons
- Opposition from social justice groups like the ACLU
- Concerns about profiling loiterers based on appearance
- Disagreement on whether recriminalizing loitering will address the root causes of prostitution