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JUVENILE PROSTITUTION IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN (NY)

NCJ Number
58275
Author(s)
D BRACEY; F MARDEN; K JEFFERSON
Date Published
1977
Length
122 pages
Annotation
THIS PRELIMINARY STUDY AIMED TO SUPPLY FACTS ABOUT YOUTHFUL PROSTITUTES WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMS TO REMOVE THESE GIRLS FROM THE STREETS AND DIVERT THEM FROM PROSTITUTION.
Abstract
THE STUDY CONTAINED TWO COMPONENTS--INFORMATION AND EVALUATION. THE INFORMATION-GATHERING PHASE USED INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE NEW YORK CITY YOUTH BOARD, AND THE PORT AUTHORITY POLICE. INFORMATION ALSO WAS OBTAINED BY INTERVIEWING 11 YOUNG PROSTITUTES WHILE THEY WERE IN THE CUSTODY OF THE YOUTH AID DIVISION OF THE NYPD. ALSO, INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM OBSERVING AND TALKING TO 21 GIRLS WHO WERE IN THE STREETS. THE JUVENILE PROSTITUTES IN NEW YORK CITY COME FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. THE TIMES SQUARE AREA, IN WHICH THIS STUDY CONCENTRATED, SEEMS TO HAVE MORE MINORITY GROUP PROSTITUTES THAN DOES THE EAST SIDE OF MANHATTAN. HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDY SAMPLE WERE STREET PROSTITUTES; WOMEN WHO WORK 'INSIDE' TEND TO BE WHITE. ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF THE GIRLS INTERVIEWED CLAIMED THAT OTHER GIRLS REPRESENTED THE MAIN INFLUENCE IN THEIR DECISION TO GO INTO PROSTITUTION. GENERALLY, CHARM, FLATTERY, THE PROMISE OF MONEY, PROTECTION, COMPANIONSHIP, AND EMOTIONAL CLOSENESS ARE ENOUGH TO TRIGGER AN ENTRANCE INTO THE WORLD OF PROSTITUTION. PIMPS WHO WORK WITH JUVENILES TEND TO BE THE 'SMALL CHANGE' OF THEIR PROFESSION, AND ARE CONSIDERED BY MORE 'PROFESSIONAL' PIMPS TO BE ALMOST AMATEURS. REASONS THAT GIRLS HAVE A PIMP INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: HE TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS, HE PROVIDES PROTECTION AND AFFECTION, AND HE PROVIDES SECURITY FOR THE FUTURE. THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE GIRL WITH HER PARENTS IN ALL OF THE INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED SHOWED THE EXISTENCE OF REPEATED FRICTION AND CONFLICT. BITTER QUARRELS, CORPORAL AND NONCORPORAL PUNISHMENT, AND REPEATED DISAGREEMENTS CONCERNING THE CHILD'S FRIENDS AND ACTIVITIES WERE COMMON. CHILDREN ALSO LEARN FROM THEIR PARENTS SOME MEASURE OF THEIR OWN SELF-WORTH. THE GIRLS INTERVIEWED HAD RECEIVED THE MESSAGE THAT THEY WERE OF LITTLE VALUE. YOUNG PROSTITUTES ARE EASILY VICTIMIZED BY THEIR PIMPS, THEIR CUSTOMERS, AND BY THEIR WAY OF LIFE. THEIR HEALTH IS OFTEN DAMAGED BY EXPOSURE, BAD DIET, AND CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DISCUSSED TO HELP THE YOUNG PROSTITUTE. IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT HELP MUST BE BROUGHT TO THESE GIRLS BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT SEEK IT OUT. THUS, A MAXIMUM OUTREACH EFFORT IS IMPERATIVE. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCLUDED FOR THE PORT AUTHORITY YOUTH DIVISION, VARIOUS UNITS OF THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FBI, AND FOR RESIDENCES AND NONRESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS. TABLES ARE INCLUDED, AN APPENDIX CONTAINS TESTIMONY ON THE PROBLEM, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ON PROSTITUTION AND RUNAWAYS IS PROVIDED. (PRG)