New York State decides to treat victims of prostitution and trafficking cases as victims through spe

[Rangergxi]

[url]http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/25/20692668-new-york-sets-up-special-courts-to-handle-prostitution-and-trafficking-cases?lite[/url]

[QUOTE]The state of New York will begin treating most alleged prostitutes as victims rather than criminals, and seek to steer them toward medical treatment, job training and other social services to break the cycle of sex trafficking.

The highest-ranking judge in the state, Jonathan Lippman, announced the initiative Wednesday and said that it was the first of its kind in the United States.
The state is establishing special courts to handle the cases and expects most of them to be set up by the end of next month. Lippman said that the program could help thousands of people entangled in sex trafficking.

“It is in every sense a form of modern-day slavery,” he said.

Under the new system, all prostitution cases that go beyond arraignment will be referred to the special trafficking court, where a judge, prosecutor and defense attorney will confer.
If they determine that the defendant is a victim in need of help, they will refer the victim to tailored services — drug treatment, education, job training, health care or immigration help, for example.[/QUOTE]

[Careld]

About time. Though I guess some choose to be prostitute, would they be criminals then?