New York state recently enacted groundbreaking legislation, allowing youth younger than 18 arrested for prostitution to receive services and treatment programs instead of being criminally prosecuted. The Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Youth Act finally treats the teenage boys and girls who are driven to prostitution as the victims they are.
The act will grant juveniles the services they deserve, bring state criminal laws in line with federal anti-trafficking laws and punish the true offenders — those who patronize and pimp out juveniles. Other states should follow suit.
