Manhattan's prostitution move is a great first step, but a far cry from full decriminalization

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The NYT is reporting that Manhattan will no longer prosecute prostitution and unlicensed massage. This is a great first step, but it’s still a far cry from full decriminalization.

Overcriminalization is the beating heart of police abuse. Laws on the books, whether or not they’re prosecuted, give cops the cover they need to harass non-violent citizens.

If you don’t change the laws, police can still conduct stings and raids where they receive sex work services and then arrest sex workers. Or, they exchange sex for not arresting them. Both of these activities are legal in many states.

Prosecutors are still planning to prosecute buyers of sex. The move toward shifting criminalization from sellers to buyers is known as the Nordic Model. Or, as sex workers describe it, fake decrim.

“This policy continues to criminalize sex work by criminalizing clients,” Mary Moody wrote of the change. “This means police raids like the one that killed Yang Song will continue & marginalized sex workers will still be disproportionately harmed.”

Sex work will not be significantly safer for anyone involved until we fully decriminalize all parts of the adult, consensual sex trade.