Thread by @Bridgette_Carr

Last week @EliNSavit (our local prosecutor) announced his office will no longer prosecute consensual sex work. Since then lots of folks have been contacting me. Some are elated, others are upset and worried. I have thoughts on both. /1

https://twitter.com/EliNSavit/status/1349718330798649345

First I need to stake out my own position. I have been representing survivors of sex trafficking for over a decade. I don't think the criminal justice system is the main solution for solving sex trafficking. /2

Fighting sex (or labor) trafficking means good jobs, access to stable and safe housing, low-cost daycare, access to education, and healthcare for all etc. In other words it means reducing poverty and vulnerability in your community. /3

The policy @EliNSavit announced is important because it means his office does not support the arrest of my clients. Why does this matter? Because many of my clients -- victims of sex trafficking -- are repeatedly arrested on prostitution charges. /4

Some people (at least in my in box) are concerned. They worry buyers of sex will no longer be punished and that they will never be charged. In my over decade of work representing sex trafficking victims -- the buyers have NEVER been charged in any of the cases. /5

I just need to say this again. In my cases involving non-consensual sex work, also known as sex trafficking, the buyers have not been charged.

And yes this includes cases involving minors who were sold for sex. /6

In general buyers are not arrested. (and yes I know sometimes--rarely-- buyers are arrested but that is not the norm)

This means that in the US we have already effectively decriminalized the buying of sex. /7

If anyone is willing to stop arresting my clients I will be excited. However I don't want to overstate what is happening either. Even before this announcement arrests for prostitution in my county were not common.

Most of our cases come from outside of our county. /8

Does that mean we aren't arresting folks in the commercial sex industry here? No. It means we aren't arresting them and charging them with prostitution. We still see arrests for things like drug possession. Nothing in this new policy prohibits this from continuing to occur. /9

We can't view any type of trafficking in isolation from labor and employment laws, homelessness, access to education, healthcare, etc. The law is powerful, but it is only one tool to address issues. /10

Not arresting my clients for prostitution is a huge step in the right direction.

Now how might we help my clients who want to access services and support without having to be arrested for drug possession first? /end