PROVIDENCE —The state police and state Rep. Joanne Giannini both maintain authorities can't apply the brakes on human trafficking unless the door is slammed on indoor prostitution.
The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill introduced by Rep.Giannini, D-Providence, on April 30, which would criminalize indoor prostitution. The bill is now set to head for debate on the House floor.
State Police Superintendent Col. Brendan Doherty said prostitution has no place in the Ocean State, leads to other crimes and exploits women.
"I support both bills. I am vehemently opposed to allow prostitution to continue in Rhode Island. It should be illegal, and it is against the moral fiber of the community and leads to other criminal activity," said Doherty.
He supports the legislation that would make indoor prostitution illegal and apply harsher penalties for people convicted of human trafficking.
Giannini had introduced bill H-5044, which would criminalize indoor prostitution. The bill has been amended and now includes a provision to protect victims of sex trafficking. Women who have been "forced" into prostitution would not be prosecuted.
"The law I have sponsored offers immunity for sex-trafficking victims. Right now the police can't enforce trafficking laws," said Giannini.
Giannini and state Sen. Rhoda Perry, D-Providence have sponsored identical bills on human trafficking, which would apply fines of no less than $40,000 and up to life in imprisonment for trafficking anyone younger than 18 for sexual purposes.
"I told Tammy [Dudman] if we don't pass something (against prostitution) then the trafficking bill doesn't mean anything," said Giannini.
Dudman is the co-chair of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Human Trafficking.
"I understand the perspective of the police. We're not taking a stand on the prostitution bill. Everybody in our Coalition wants the police to have the tools they need. We are thankful for the support of the state police on the trafficking bill," said Dudman.
She emphasized that the current human trafficking law is weak. The Coalition has endorsed Giannini and Perry's sponsored bills, which would give the police the ability to identify human traffickers.
"Rhode Island's current trafficking law does not mention labor trafficking. Many people are vulnerable because of their immigration status. Our trafficking bill is a comprehensive approach to trafficking. It does not only include the sex trade but labor as well," said Dudman.
"This (trafficking bill) provides collaboration between local, state and federal agencies.
Donna Hughes, a professor at URI, said criminalizing indoor prostitution would allow law enforcement to interview prostitutes who have been forced by traffickers into brothels. Hughes has conducted international research on human trafficking.
"We need to have an anti-prostitution law. We already have a human-trafficking law, but there were no prosecutions on the first law. We still won't have prosecutions on the second one either," said Hughes.
"This (prostitution) is a commercial activity. It involves advertising, an exchange of services for a fee, and therefore it is not a private activity," said Hughes.
Doherty mentioned activity on social-networking sites on the Internet, which could lead to prostitution and contribute to human trafficking. "People are not protected from meeting with others. It's shameful that women are exploited."
"We [the state police] can't effectively enforce trafficking without a prostitution statute. A loophole permits prostitution indoors. I think people against the law are confused. I heard someone say we should legalize it (indoor prostitution) and tax it and that's absurd," said Doherty.
Doherty is urging the General Assembly to criminalize indoor prostitution.
"If we allow this to continue the real losers are prostitutes. Our major trafficking investigations would be on organizations such as organized crime and not prostitutes," said Doherty.
Indoor prostitution is legal in Rhode Island and some counties in Nevada.
Under state law in Nevada, counties with populations of less than 400,000 people can decide whether to legalize indoor prostitution.
