# California's new underage prostitute law.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/californias-new-underage-prostitute-law/465640>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [September 29, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/californias-new-underage-prostitute-law/465640 "2008-09-29T00:33:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/californias-new-underage-prostitute-law/465640/41 "2008-10-01T14:01:17Z")

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> [@Magiver](#):
>
> I was under the impression that support groups worked with the court systems to provide the guidance needed to break the cycle.

Most support groups these days seem to agree that the court system is a hindrance rather than a help. There is a lot of support for the Swedish model of criminalising the clients rather than the workers; I actually don’t agree with this model because the Swedish sex workers themselves say that any sort of criminalisation makes their work more dangerous, but the policy of not treating the workers themselves as criminals is definitely becoming international best practice.

> [@](#):
>
> Without a forced (detained) environment there is nothing stopping a drug addicted prostitute from returning to the street.

Forced/detained environments don’t stop them returning to the street either, that should be clear from the number of repeat arrests.

New Zealand’s decriminalisation programme has had a positive impact so far: [link](http://www.justice.govt.nz/prostitution-law-review-committee/publications/plrc-report/index.html).

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/californias-new-underage-prostitute-law/465640/42 "2008-10-01T14:02:18Z")

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I think it’s a good try. I wonder how well the system in Canada works.  
As I read it, the bill is not gender specific, so young exploited boys should be eligible as well.

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**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/californias-new-underage-prostitute-law/465640/43 "2008-10-02T04:34:40Z")

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> [@Magiver](#):
>
> To me, this law looks like a recruiting poster for underage prostitutes. It will be Thailand with the blessing of the the Governor/Legislators.

_Ahem._ You mean Cambodia. As I keep pointing out, Thailand has cracked down a lot on underage prostitutes over the years. Unfortunately, the perception remains.

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