By now, the entire world has heard of New York Governor Elliot Spitzer's role in a prostitution ring, where he apparently was visiting with call girls whose rates were as high as $5,500 per visit over the course of 6 plus years. Now, no longer the governor of the nation's third largest state, he awaits possible criminal charges and further humiliation. While the average john doesn't face anywhere near the national scrutiny that Mr. Spitzer is facing, all men found soliciting a prostitute will face legal actions, family shame and a gamut of internal and external difficulties.
Prostitution is a problem from Skid Row all the way to the heights of politics. Prostitution also now has two very divergent roads, one is the "indoor" or "call girl" style that is normally higher end and more expensive, the other are the street workers who hang out on corners or in places where men can drive by and fine them.
There are also two different offenders to laws forbidding prostitution, solicitors and the prostitutes themselves.
The sex industry is filled with women, and sometimes men, who were abused sexually and/or physically as children and are often runaways. While this isn't 100% true, it is in most cases, and there is often a very high drug use rate among prostitutes and sex industry workers. Those issues and the high rate of STD's prevalent in the industry create not just criminal ramifications, but major health concerns as well.
The city of Berkeley, CA recently tried to decriminalize prostitution, that failed however. California law states that any individual who knowingly or repeatedly beckons individuals over for the purpose of exchanging sex for money, or who actively solicits a prostitute is immediately guilty of a misdemeanor. This can carry with it a fine, probation and possibly minor jail time. Mr. Spitzer's issue was not only one of prostitution, but of sex trafficking, because he brought a known prostitute across state lines for the purpose of exchanging money for sex. Crossing state lines in any crime incurs the wrath of the federal government, which will lead to increased jail time.
Jail time increases for sex with a minor, and often time prostitutes, especially street workers, are minors. These laws begin to drift into sex offender laws and could carry a penalty of major jail time, being listed as a sex offender and so on.
Tips:
1. If you are considering sleeping with a prostitute, if it is a major urge, you may be a sex addict and you may need help. Actively seeking help for an addiction will not only help you, but possibly allow you to have more leniency with a judge.
2. If arrested, be sure you procure an attorney who knows the laws and can get your sentence/fine minimized as much as possible.
My first inclination is to say no, do not prosecute him because this is really a victimless crime. However, due to Mr. Spitzer's "Holier than Thou", sanctimonious approach to others while he was District Attorney, I feel he should be prosecuted (just ask the guys on Wall Street). Also, if nothing else, he should be prosecuted for being stupid. You mean to tell me that the most powerful man in one of the largest state economies could not "stash" a few bucks away here and there to pay for his folly? He gets a paycheck and I am sure no one in his family monitors his spending since he rarely has to spend any money. No. Not Laser Brain! He creates a dummy company and plows money into it as if no one would notice. You would think he of all people would be aware of the IRS staffers who just sit around all day drinking cappuccinos and studying these types of transactions. And he was an Attorney General? Arrest the bum!