Rethink Resources

A great deal on my mind but for now, a summary of news items that caught my eye:

Governor signs bill to protect child prostitutes

Albany: Children in New York who are forced to work in the sex trade won’t be treated as criminals under a new law Gov. David Paterson signed Friday.

The measure will extend additional social services to exploited youth and require the legal system to treat them as victims, rather than criminal sex workers.

“You don’t deserve to be treated like a criminal,” said Shaquana, an 18-year-old who was arrested for prostitution at age 14. “Hopefully it will take that stereotype out of people’s heads about girls who are being sexually exploited.”

New Legislation Decriminalizes Child Prostitution

Sacramento: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law Sunday that would help young prostitutes. The legislation decriminalizes the actions of minors involved in the sex trade. Instead of punishing them, they would be treated as victims.

Currently, if a minor is picked up for prostitution, she is charged as a criminal and sent to juvenile. But this law would change that and connect young girls with counselors and services they need. The law would also help girls who want to bring charges against a pimp.

So both New York And California now have new legislation on the books regarding minors arrested for prostitution. In one way I can definitely understand how some youth will be elated at the idea of not having to go to jail or prison. But I have many, many problems with the way that youth are mandated into services, reinstatement of charges for youth who do not complete programs, and provisions that deny youth eligibility if they don’t cooperate with law enforcement to prosecute pimps. Sounds like a lot more problems to me.

Standing Between Exploited Girls and the Streets (video)

Elizabeth Sy — Director of Banteay Srei at the East Bay Asian Youth Center a 26 year old first generation Cambodian woman who recently won a Rising Peace Maker Prize for her work with young women involved in the sex trade. YO! Recently talked with Sy and found out what steps she feels must be taken for future of sexually exploited minors.

Court hears of teen’s life before the streets

The Dallas detective listened as the Wichita teenager described a troubled past that led her to work as a prostitute on the streets of his city.

Detective Michael McMurray testified Wednesday in the trial of Marlin Williams — charged with human trafficking for allegedly taking the teenager to Dallas.

Voices on 82nd: What will it take to tame the street’s sex trade?

Portland Police Officer Scherise Hobbs asks a 14-year-old girl in handcuffs: “Does your mother know what you are doing?” The teenager was walking down 82nd Avenue when she got into a man’s car. She admitted to police that she had agreed to a sex act with the man.

This last article isn’t focused on youth but I’m really irritated with the picture above and caption that I’ve quoted here. It’s such a violation for minors to be photographed by media while being arrested anyway. And for the police to bring up her mother - as if it’s likely that her mother cares? It’s so shame-based. Not that I expect a lot but seriously, this is yet another reason teens don’t want to talk to police.