Rhode Island Bill on Criminalization of Prostitution
Summary
The Rhode Island legislature is currently considering a bill, HB5044A, which would recriminalize indoor prostitution. The measure passed the Assembly and was the subject of a hearing before the Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee on June 18th. The main justification being offered for passage of the bill is that it is absolutely necessary to prevent and address trafficking into prostitution. SWP's experience has been that arrests for prostitution related offenses are more likely to hurt rather than help victims of trafficking, and rarely lead to identification and assistance of victims.
What you can do
Please call or e-mail the members of the RI Senate Judiciary Committee today to let them know that this is not the way to help victims of trafficking! They are under tremendous pressure to pass this legislation, and need to hear from people across the country!
Read SWP's memorandum in opposition to the bill.
Related Documents
Andrea Ritchie
09/02/2009
Article written for RH Reality Check on Rhode Island's proposed bill to criminalize indoor prostitution.
Penelope Saunders
06/25/2009
PDF - 760K
Letter from Penelope Saunders to the Rhode Island Senate Judiciary committee, supporting the Memorandum in Opposition to HB5044 submitted by the Sex Workers Project.
Sex Workers Project
06/18/2009
PDF - 452K
SWP statement to the Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee on the proposed bill S.B. 0584 to define and criminalize prostitution in Rhode Island.
Sex Workers Project
06/18/2009
PDF - 320K
Text of the press release issued by the Sex Workers project about the proposed bill to criminalize prostitution in Rhode Island
Sex Workers Project
06/08/2009
PDF - 360K
A memorandum from SWP in opposition to the 'Criminalization of Prostitution' bill before the Rhode Island Senate.
Ann Jordan
06/05/2009
PDF - 3.51MB
Letter from Ann Jordan to the Rhode Island Senate Judiciary committee, opposing HB5044A on the criminalization of prostitution.
Press and Media
The Providence Journal --
27.06.2009 The Providence Journal --
27.06.2009 Seattle Post-Intelligencer --
27.06.2009