New Legislation Seeks to End Demand for Prostitution in Illinois

New Legislation Seeks to End Demand for Prostitution in Illinois

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Craigslist recently shut down its adult services section. Owners of the Web-based classifieds site have remained largely mum about what drove their decision. But they became subject to increasing pressure from a variety of law enforcement officials, concerned that the site was a haven for human traffickers. Meanwhile, the effect of a local campaign targeting prostitution is being examined today. End Demand Illinois aims to cut off supplies to solicitous “Johns.” Most recently they’ve lobbied to change state law, so that people who seek or profit from prostitution face stiffer penalties. 

Sociologist Greg Scott and sex worker and advocate Serpent explain what this legislation will mean for sex workers. Dr. Greg Scott has been on our air before with his award-winning series on The Brickyard, which revealed the inner workings of a drug subculture on the city’s west side. He’s now working on stories about the sex industry. Serpent is the Chicago director of the Sex Workers’ Outreach Project.

RELATED:
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation: Ending Prostitution in Illinois