Res. No. 1041 Title Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to mandate meaningful sentencing for prostitution recidivists. Body By Council Members Vallone, Avella, Nelson, Rivera, Quinn and Gallagher Whereas, Many communities within the city of New York are negatively impacted by prostitution, most especially by repeat offenders of this crime; and Whereas, The city overall has experienced an increase in the number of those arrested for prostitution since 1999, and only in 2002, when the majority of police resources were focused on counter-terrorism, was there a decline in this arrest rate; and Whereas, Certain communities, such as Greenwich Village, have experienced a significant amount of arrests from January to March of this year, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, as 300 people were arrested for prostitution and 242 were arrested for loitering for solicitation; and Whereas, Recidivists in Greenwich Village, those classified by 5 or more arrests in the last 24 months, represent 46 arrests, a number which the Manhattan District Attorney's Office considers to be unusually high given the total number of arrests for prostitution; and Whereas, To preserve the quality of life of residents, the businesses they own and frequent, and to encourage future economic investment in their communities, appropriate reforms to curb this activity must be implemented; and Whereas, The police department, though effective in apprehending prostitutes, are limited in their ability to curb future activity due to the current sentencing laws; and Whereas, First-time offenders who patronize prostitutes are offered a rehabilitation program instead of jail, which has proven to reduce patronizing recidivists, however, no similar program is offered to those arrested for prostitution; and Whereas, Many prostitutes engage in this criminal activity due to a lack of options such as job training, education, treatment for physical and emotional injuries suffered, and protection from pimps who threaten physical force; and Whereas, Mandating those arrested for prostitution to attend a life skills rehabilitation program may effectively reduce the rate of recidivist prostitutes; and Whereas, Rehabilitation, however, may not be the only sentencing option for those who are repeat offenders; and Whereas, The courts have been reluctant to impose minimum sentences for recidivists; and Whereas, Failure to punish repeat offenders with jail time sends the message that the city does not take these crimes seriously; and Whereas, Legislation such as New York State Assembly Bill 04409 would authorize and mandate stiffer penalties for persistent offenders thereby helping to deter this criminal behavior; and Whereas, In order to ensure that quality of life crimes such as prostitution do not proliferate, it is important that all efforts be employed, including meaningful sentencing for prostitution recidivists; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to mandate meaningful sentencing for prostitution recidivists. MK LS#2659 6/12/03