Name: Washtenaw County will no longer pursue criminal charges for consensual sex work | News Hits
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Washtenaw County will no longer pursue criminal charges for consensual sex work | News Hits

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Switch to the of this page.Washtenaw County's new prosecutor is laying waste to out-of-date policies and criminal charges regarding everything from drugs to, as of Thursday, consensual sex work.Prosecutor Eli Savit — who earlier this week, released a pair of new policy directives that detailed why he would involving marijuana, "magic" mushrooms, or other entheogenic plants — says his office will now no longer pursue criminal charges relating to sex work.Instead of criminalizing consensual sex work, Savit says the county will prioritize its resources to pursuing human trafficking, sex crimes involving children, and sexual abuse and assault cases. The hope is that more of the aforementioned crimes will be reported as a result of the new policy directive.“The criminalization of sex work, in short, is in serious tension with established norms related to bodily autonomy and personal liberty,” the reads, which goes on to compare the ineffectiveness of alcohol Prohibition in the U.S. from 1920-1933 to the demonization of sex work, creating a dangerous black market in which sex workers — and their abusers — exist. Today, I’m announcing the Washtenaw Prosecutor’s Office will no longer prosecute consensual sex work. We'll focus on trafficking, sexual assault, victimization of kids. Our policy will facilitate prosecution of such crimes.Please read our full policy: /1 — Eli Savit (@EliNSavit)Because of this, Savit's office says, people feel free to abuse sex workers' rights and those who experience abuse, violence, or exploitation, are less likely to report these instances to law enforcement, fearful that they could be criminally charged.“Research demonstrates that the criminalization of sex work 'enhances sexworkers’ vulnerabilities to violence and exploitation.' Because sex work 'is regarded as criminal activity . . . sex workers are easy targets for abuse and exploitation,'” the statement reads. “Criminalization forces sex workers to operate in 'isolated conditions and locations,' thereby increasing their 'physical vulnerability.'”There are potential societal and worldwide medical benefits as a result of decriminalizing sex work, too. Among the directive's cited research is information from the world's leading independent medical journal, , which suggests that decriminalizing sex work would be the greatest tool in reducing new HIV infections. The directive states that by legitimizing the work of sex workers, they may be able to enforce condom usage without fearing abuse and other harmful repercussions.“We are laser-focused on crime that harms our community, and on protecting public safety,” Savit said. “Today’s policy makes it far more likely that sex workers will feel comfortable reporting serious crime, and that they will be able to work in conditions that protect their safety and public health.”To read the full directive, visit .Stay on top of Detroit news and views. Sign up for our weekly issue delivered each Wednesday.Tags: , , , , , ,We welcome readers to submit letters regarding articles and content in Detroit Metro Times. Letters should be a minimum of 150 words, refer to content that has appeared on Detroit Metro Times, and must include the writer's full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes. No attachments will be considered. Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified via email. Letters may be edited and shortened for space.Email us at .Detroit Metro Times works for you, and your support is essential.Our small but mighty local team works tirelessly to bring you high-quality, uncensored news and cultural coverage of Detroit and beyond.Unlike many newspapers, ours is free – and we'd like to keep it that way, because we believe, now more than ever, everyone deserves access to accurate, independent coverage of their community.Whether it's a one-time acknowledgement of this article or an ongoing pledge, your support helps keep Detroit's true free press free.Top StoriesAdvertisement:|January 13-20, 2021Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox.No results30 E. Canfield St.Detroit, MI 48201Main: (313) 961-4060Advertising: (313) 961-4060Classified: (313) 961-4060All parts of this site Copyright © 2021 Detroit Metro Times.© 2021Detroit Metro Times -Website powered by

Switch to the of this page.Washtenaw County's new prosecutor is laying waste to out-of-date policies and criminal charges regarding everything from drugs to, as of Thursday, consensual sex work.Prosecutor Eli Savit — who earlier this week, released a pair of new policy directives that detailed why he would involving marijuana, "magic" mushrooms, or other entheogenic plants — says his office will now no longer pursue criminal charges relating to sex work.Instead of criminalizing consensual sex work, Savit says the county will prioritize its resources to pursuing human trafficking, sex crimes...

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Jerilyn Jordan

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Washtenaw County will no longer pursue criminal charges for consensual sex work | News Hits

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