Most cops would never think of using [laws allowing them to molest sex workers] for nefarious purposes because sex workers are exploited “victims” that they’re trying to “rescue”. – Me
Once again, cops are arguing that they need to be allowed to have sex with suspects in order to investigate prostitution allegations. And once again, lawmakers and journalists are acting like exploitation and assault of sex workers by law enforcement is a rare occurrence, rather than a national epidemic. Most people would agree that the deception, the power differential, and the subsequent arrest of sex workers make such contact utterly unacceptable, even if they don’t think that it rises to the level of rape. Yet the behavior is common enough to bring police unions to its defense on a regular basis…
See, I can restrain myself and use less-inflammatory language when the need arises! For those who haven’t seen my work on Reason before, here are the previous ones:
How a Crusading Chicago Sheriff Convinced Visa and Mastercard to Screw Sex Workers (7/2/15)
No, Rhode Island Didn’t “Accidentally” Decriminalize Prostitution (8/24/14)
The Mythical Invasion of the Super Bowl Hookers (1/26/14)
Reason articles use headlines rather than essay-type titles, so these are longer than you’re used to seeing on my work (and they’re written by editors rather than by me). While we’re at it, this is as good a place as any to remind you on some other articles I’ve done for high-traffic sites:
Lies, Damned Lies and Sex Work Statistics for the Washington Post (3/28/14)
and
Treating Sex Work as Work in Cato Unbound (12/2/13), the lead essay in an online debate (including several follow-ups).
Anyhow, there will certainly be more, and I’ll certainly call your attention to ’em as they appear.