Is Prostitution A Victimless Crime - 3179 Words

Is prostitution a victimless crime and should this affect its legislation? As established earlier, a victimless crime is defined as a legal offense in which all parties consent and no party is injured. I believe that this is a key thought to consider when discussing the legislation of prostitution, because surely an act should only be illegal if there are directly negative impacts caused it? If prostitution is in fact a ‘victimless crime’, does it even need to be considered a crime at all? A crime can be defined as an action which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law, why should prostitution constitute an offence if no one is harmed? In the 1950s, Sir John Wolfenden led an investigation for the British government, looking into whether or not prostitution (and homosexual acts) should remain as criminal acts. Wolfenden did not question the immorality of the acts, but concluded that the law should be reformed because â€Å"there must remain a realm of private morality and immorality that is, in brief and crude terms, not the law’s business†. Liberal thinkers tend to hold the same view, which was describe in an earlier publication by John Stuart Mill, â€Å"†¦the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others†. This quote is often used to support the repeal of laws which make ‘victimless crimes’ (e.g. laws against prostitution/homosexuality). I agree with the view of Wolfenden andShow MoreRelatedShould Prostitution Be A Victimless Crime?1506 Words   |  7 PagesThe act of prosti tution has been a leading topic of moral and legislative debate for centuries. Sometimes referred to as the ‘world’s oldest profession’ because it dates back to around 2400 B.C., prostitution is the practice of exchanging, selling or trading of sexual acts for payment. Although this service is forbidden amongst the world more often than it is not, the debate of its legalization has remained a heated issue (ProQuest Staff).The legalization of prostitution and whether or not prostitutionRead MorePublic Order Crime Prostitution Is Not A Victimless Crime Essay840 Words   |  4 Pages I think the public order crime prostitution is not a victimless crime because most of the women/ men are forced to stay in that line of work. For example a woman pays a Coyotaje to bring her sister from China over, she told once the sister gets to the states she will be reunited with her sister but they keep her against her will in a illegal massage parlor. They will now tell her sister that she owes more money a huge amount and unless she pays it off her sister will be forced to have to pim herselfRead MoreLegalization Of Prostitution : Is It Really A Victimless Crime?1913 Words   |  8 PagesLegalization of Prostitution: Is It Really a Victimless Crime? The definition of prostitution, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is â€Å"the work of a prostitute: the act of having sex in exchange of money,† and â€Å"the use of a skill or ability in a way that is not appropriate or respectable† (Merriam-Webster). The definition alone casts a shadow of negativity onto prostitution, plainly stating that it is wrong. The history of prostitution in America can be traced back to the founding days whenRead MoreConsent Is A Vital Part Of Human Socialization1593 Words   |  7 Pageswatch. There are also some crimes that people consent to taking part in. In the eyes of the law, these crimes are considered â€Å"victimless† because the would-be victim consented to the crime. (Dempsey, 2013) There are two sides to every jail cell, meaning that the question â€Å"Does victimless crime exist?† has contrary answers depending on who’s answering. This paper’s assertion is in support of the present factor of victimhood for an act to be considered a crime. In Crime and Morality by Hans BoutellierRead MoreVictimless Crimes Not To Be Decriminalized Essay1120 Words   |  5 PagesVictimless crimes, the illegal act(s) that involves consenting adults and lacks a complaining participant, have been the topic of heated debate for some time now (Kendall, 2014). This debate centers primarily on the question as to whether these acts should be crimes at all. The arguments take several forms. One of the controversies involves the importance of personal freedom versus society’s idea to uphold moral standards. A second issue addresses the problem of the conception of harm. PeopleRead MoreTo what Extent Are Prostitution and Drug Use Associated with Sociological Variables?1214 Words   |  5 Pagesextent are prostitution and drug use associated with sociological variables and are they truly victimless? Prostitution and illicit drug use are contentious topics, not only in North America but around the world. The issues of how to police, as well as whether or not to decriminalize prostitution and drug use are multifaceted and encompass sociological, economic, and health factors. Although there is a general understanding amongst the public concerning the definitions of prostitution and drug useRead More There are no Truly Victimless Crimes Essay1026 Words   |  5 PagesThese matters are often called victimless crimes. Mill - along with the majority of people in todays world - claims that if a person commits a crime against his or herself, such as harming the body by taking certain drugs or suicide, the person should not be prosecuted. The argument is that no other person is affected. All involved parties consent to the arrangement, so they should be responsible for whatever happens. A few common victimless crimes are prostitution, taking harmful drugs, and suicideRead MorePublic Ord er Crimes630 Words   |  3 PagesWhat are public order crimes, and how are they different from violent and property crimes? Explain how moral entrepreneurship affects the public perception of morality and thus the creation of new public order crimes. Answer: Public order crimes are crimes against the public consensus of morality. Sometimes public order crimes are called victimless crimes, as there is no clear victim that can be identified. A crime against the public order is quite different than a crime against a person. ViolentRead MoreVictimless Crime1399 Words   |  6 PagesVictimless crime is defined as a violation of community standards or an illicit act against a government policy or agency (Wisegeek, 2009) yet, which neither directly harms nor violates the rights of any specific person, although some people may claim it harms society as a whole. Many people consider such acts as drunk driving, prostitution, public drunkenness, assisting someone to die at his or her request, using drugs, white-collar crimes, and abortion to be victimless crimes. They feel, as thoughRead MoreIs Victimless Crimes Is Defined As A Victimless Crime933 Words   |  4 Pageschose to write about is Victimless Crimes. I will be defining the term as w ell as discussing a few of the known victimless crimes along with the penalty/punishment for each in the states of Alabama, Kentucky and Michigan. A victimless crime is defined as an incident or crime where there is no distinct victim legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Victimless Crimes. There are many different crimes that can be categorized as a Victimless Crime. Some of these crimes include Postitution, Drug