Introduction
Problem solving policies are essential toward promoting community policing and governance. It is the role of everyone to ensure that set rules and programs that offer a solution to criminality are well protected. However, there are several illegal ruled actions that do not actually violate other people rights (Lentz et al., 17). Such acts are commonly referred to as victimless crimes. The challenge emerges on the practical definition and whether or not to classify an action as a victimless crime. Criminologists suggests that prostitution fall under victimless crime category. The idea can however be argued about and challenged based on various contexts and analysis.
According to Susan A. Lentz women suffer beyond their expectations due to acts of prostitution. Their consensual involvement on the acts of prostitution brings about undesired effects on their living. This further extends to their families and close relatives who are in one way or another concerned about their lives. Susan therefore identifies the participants together with their allies as the victims of prostitution. In the US, majority of the state recognize prostitution as a crime. Those women who engage in the acts end up sentenced and serve jail terms on a frequent basis (Lentz et al., 31). This is because, the act itself is addictive and even though it is subjected to short time jail terms as required by law, most prostitutes live in a jail environment in most part of their lives.
This idea of victimizing women for prostitution is a bit controversial. The government loses unnecessary amount of money that is spent to cater for these women while in jail. This is money from taxpayers who are far from being affected by the prostitution behavior. So, what is the logic of jailing women whose actions and behaviors do not victimize the society in general? This could be a waste of the limited resources that could be channeled to support other productive projects that benefit the community (Pickering et al., 20).
In my opinion, prostitution is a misnomer and a victimless action. The law on prostitution should therefore be relaxed because the action is like any other business transaction in a mutual trade scenario. The argument is that the woman receives some payments from the client who is willing and able to after the service. So where exactly is the crime and why is the law trying to punish the woman? Why is the man or client in this case being let free? The woman here does not force anybody since the man voluntarily participates. Enforcing laws on actions like these only cost the society. It does not bring any significant benefit that can be accounted for in either the present of long term basis.
The victimless aspect of the act of prostitution in naturally biased. The terming of the act is geared to install the perception of ‘illegality’ so as the society lives in a decent way (Pickering et al., 23). This however does not mean that prostitution should be illegal. A much better perception on prostitution could be termed as a public order crime activity where efforts are made to facilitate public awareness about its effect. The effects include the spread of STIs, HIV AIDS and other sexual transmitted diseases. This could create a better moral change mechanism that members of the society adapt to as compared to the conviction of those who practice prostitution.
Works Cited
Lentz, Susan A., and Grant B. Stitt. "Women as Victims in “Victimless Crimes” The Case of Prostitution." journal of temporary criminal justice (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 2013.
Pickering, Sharon, Jude McCulloch, and David P. Wright-Neville. Counter-terrorism Policing: Community, Cohesion and Security. New York: Springer, 2008. Print.
