Is Prostitution a Victimless Crime?

Abstract

Prostitution is often viewed as a crime without a victim, because it is hard to see prostitutes as victims of the activity in which they decided to participate voluntarily. This paper challenges the idea that prostitution is a victimless crime, drawing on analysis of just one type of prostitution – street prostitution. Moreover, it seeks to identify the appropriate response to street sex work and thereby, critically evaluates the different models of intervention, which different countries have adopted in order to regulate this activity. It concludes with a proposal that not only can reduce street prostitution but also help prostitutes to exit the profession.

Keywords: victimless crime, crime without a victim, prostitution, street prostitution, therapeutic jurisprudence, criminalisation, legalisation, decriminalisation

JEL Classification: K14