New law aims to rescue children from lives of prostitution

Unanimous support propelled Dickerson measure into law

April 28, 2009

OLYMPIA—Two months after a nationwide crackdown on juvenile prostitution swept up hundreds of suspects and victims of sexual exploitation, including 10 children in Seattle, Gov. Chris Gregoire today signed legislation that will help law enforcement and social service providers rescue more children from the revolving door of prostitution and prosecution.

The new law gives prosecutors added authority to divert prosecution in order to steer youth involved in prostitution into safe housing and services that have proved effective in rescuing sexually exploited children from pimps and johns. The law also requires state officials to collect hard data on -whether the new strategy is effective in getting needed services to children and reducing repeat offenses.

"Treating sexually exploited children as criminals hasn't worked and can't work because it does nothing to rescue the kids from the influence and coercion of the pimps and procurers," said State Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson (D-Seattle), the main sponsor of the new law. "A task force we put together last year to reduce juvenile prostitution found that other states are getting better results by using carrots to guide the juveniles into wraparound services and safe living arrangements that shield them from coercive adults."

The law was praised by King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, who played a leading role in shaping and urging the reforms.

'"Until now, there has never been a good option for helping juveniles escape the downward spiral of prostitution," Satterberg said. "This bill, and the local efforts in King County to build a diversion option, are the first steps toward helping kids who, while technically law-breakers, are actually the tragic victims of sexual exploitation."

King County is already developing a system of wraparound services for child victims of sexual exploitation and Pierce County has a set of services on the drawing board, according to Dickerson.

A June 2008 report commissioned by the City of Seattle Human Services Department estimated that 250 or more youth ages 18 and younger may be involved in prostitution annually in Seattle.

Dickerson's measure secured unanimous support in the House and Senate after prosecutors lined up to support the alternatives it offered to arrest and incarceration.

"We're not just in support of this, we're pretty enthusiastic about this bill," said Tom McBride on behalf of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. "This is exactly the way to do alternatives: You fund them, have standards, and make sure they work."