Petition asks for sex worker immunity for information

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Petition asks for sex worker immunity for info re Long Island serial killer
May 6th, 2011 7:06 pm ET
By Cindy Adams, Crime Examiner
Long Island, NY - In an effort to help capture the Craigslist Long Island serial killer, police have asked anyone with information, including sex workers, to come forward. Nonetheless, those working in the sex trade still face the risk of arrest and prosecution should they do so. Thus, an online petition asks authorities to grant immunity to those sex workers who come forward and provide information regarding the elusive murderer.

article link

Help Catch The Long Island Serial Killer
The Petition Site
Suffolk County needs to prioritize the safety of sex workers. That's why we are calling on Police Commissioner Richard Dormer to grant immunity to sex workers who provide information about the case.
petition link
 
These women, while engaged in illegal activity, are also engaged in a very highrisk activity. They face enough worry about getting picked up by a beater, a murder, the cops, etc. Honestly, while I am not condoning their choice of living at all, I think LE should offer immunity to anyone coming forward admitting they are engaged in prostitution if they are offering information.

To me it just seems like a no brainer.
 
Warrants. How many of those sex workers have warrants out on them? I doubt they'll ditch the warrants no matter what they're for. We had something in Philly where a Church sponsered something for folks with warrants. If I recall if you showed up they dismissed the warrant depending on what they were looking for you for. I'll see if I can find it in old news archives.
 
Bumpity-bump...

If you support this petition, please tweet, post to your facebook walls, etc. TIA!
 
I live in Germany now for 17 years, where prostitution is legal and these problems do not exist. They pay taxes. They have mandatory drug and HIV screenings. No human trafficing problems. Now sure there are the off the radar street girls, but their business has dried up in the last few years.
Why prostitution is such a moral delima in the USA is beyond me. There are many cases of former prostitutes who have gone on to "normal" jobs and have put the hard times behind them.
You can't stop it anyway, why not regulate it and make it safer for all parties involved.....MOO!!!
 
For Prostitutes, the Discovery of Bodies on Long Island Is Stoking Fear
By JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN and AL BAKER
NY Times, May 30, 2011

Organizers of sex workers, many of whom advocate decriminalizing prostitution, say prostitutes should be given blanket amnesty or immunity in exchange for cooperating with law enforcement.

“There’s petitions calling for amnesty and we support that call,” said Sienna G. Baskin, a lawyer and co-director of the Urban Justice Center’s Sex Workers Project.

Ms. Baskin said the police might consider ceasing vice raids and one-on-one stings, “while investigating this more serious crime, to build better relations between sex workers and the police.”

The Suffolk County police commissioner, whose department is leading one of the area’s largest multiagency homicide investigations in years, said some of the leads it was pursuing had been provided by people in the sex trade.

“Detectives have interviewed people in the escort business regarding the case, and they will continue to be interviewed,” the commissioner, Richard Dormer, said in a statement.

Escorts who have come forward to volunteer information have not been charged with a crime, Mr. Dormer said, adding that the policy would remain in place for any prostitutes who offer information.
Full article: click here
 
I'm disappointed to see the petition is now closed. I just clicked on to sign it but couldn't. From what I could see, they were still almost 4,000 signatures short. So why would they close it?
 
I live in Germany now for 17 years, where prostitution is legal and these problems do not exist. They pay taxes. They have mandatory drug and HIV screenings. No human trafficing problems. Now sure there are the off the radar street girls, but their business has dried up in the last few years.
Why prostitution is such a moral delima in the USA is beyond me. There are many cases of former prostitutes who have gone on to "normal" jobs and have put the hard times behind them.
You can't stop it anyway, why not regulate it and make it safer for all parties involved.....MOO!!!

It's the same here in Australia, Nugtzer. Not the taxes part (that is up to the individual worker. Many choose to keep their earnings 'under the table'), however it IS legal. I have two good friends who have both worked in the sex industry while they were at university and neither ever felt threatened or unsafe. Both of them worked in legal brothels. They had to provide a health certificate every month to say they had been screened for HIV and STI's.

I find it unbelievable that an act that involves two consenting adults can be considered illegal. If a woman chooses to earn her living by having sex for money, I find it crazy that the government steps in and says that's wrong and labels the provider and consumer a criminal! Just crazy!
 
In Canada prostitution is legal, but activities related to it (such as keeping brothels, pimping and solicitation) are not.
 
Well as no arrest has happened as yet - it would in my opinion seem none of these girls have gone to the police with their suspicions. If any girls in the trade read here > this is just my opinion.....but think back to any guy who has tried to get you interested in going to a group party. Big money may have been on offer - but you may have been told not to bring any personal items (such as phone, handbag) as there was no security at these parties to safeguard your personal items. Think hard about that regular hobbyist or that one out of the blue - friend of a friend who gave you a call. Send an anonymous tip to police with as much detail as you can.
 
Well as no arrest has happened as yet - it would in my opinion seem none of these girls have gone to the police with their suspicions. If any girls in the trade read here > this is just my opinion.....but think back to any guy who has tried to get you interested in going to a group party. Big money may have been on offer - but you may have been told not to bring any personal items (such as phone, handbag) as there was no security at these parties to safeguard your personal items. Think hard about that regular hobbyist or that one out of the blue - friend of a friend who gave you a call. Send an anonymous tip to police with as much detail as you can.

In light of the revelation of having had JB under surveillance & investigation in the murders of Tangredi & MacNamee without a peep to the public, the same may very well be happening in the case of the OP case. I wouldn't be surprised if there's more than meets the eye & hopefully it will be made evident for the sake of the families & justice for the victims. As for "working girls having come forward? If they have should we expect LE to tell all or not protect their identity along with the info? I have no doubt if any have or will come forward with info LE won't be interested in arresting them for what they do for a living but actually may be grateful they have something of value to offer in solving this horrific crime.
 

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