Punished ?

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Lifestyle

   In an apparent sting operation, one hundred and four men were arrested in the past two months in Nassau County for solicitation of prostitutes.

   The District Attorney released the names and photographs of the men. Obviously an attempt - successful by all accounts - to embarrass and humiliate those arrested. We know one of the men on the list whose mug shot is now online forever. We know his family. Our familiarity gives leave for us to wonder and speculate about the reaction of his wife and children and the impact on the family. It is all fodder for gossip in its most primitive form.

   Technically, no punishment has yet been meted out for these crimes. There have been no findings of guilt. The presumption of innocence exists.

    Without condoning the alleged activity, I wonder whether the "punishment" fits the crime.

Comments

Submitted by Vincent_Serro on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 23:51

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Vincent Serro

If we lived in the world of Hester Pyrnne, the "scarlet letter" of having your picture in the paper would be a big deterent to future adulterers. I don't think society views it that way any more. I do think the bigger fear of those men will be all of the new potential business for Rona and the other Long Isand divorce attorneys out there. It's not about the shame as it is about the thought of loosing control of half of your assets and only seeing your kids every other weekend that is the bigger deterent to that kind of behavior.

Submitted by Erik_Scheibe on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 00:48

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Erik Scheibe

Punishment definitely does not fit the crime. There is no way their families should be publicly humiliated like that. It is grandstanding in its worst form by politicians. If you feel these men are not punished enough by the law, then change the law. I would love to see one of the family members sue the local government for undue pain and suffering. We don't seem to do this with any other crimes that are more severe.

I don't think that prostitution should be legal, but I am curious why feminists don't want the government controlling their bodies when it comes to abortion, but it's OK for the government to tell women what to do with their bodies with regards to prostitution. Seems a bit hypocritical.

Submitted by Cheri_Elferis on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 01:04

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Cheri Elferis

I remember a discussion in my Business Law class on whether prostitution is a victimless crime. Certainly, if you have two consenting adults, then neither can be considered a victim. However, by publishing these photos, the familes have been made unwitting victims. Forget about the presumption of innocence - these men have already been "tried and found guilty" in the eyes of the public. Aren't there better ways to spend our tax dollars?
Fred Klein

The in terrorem effect of her actions was the effective intention
Rona Gura

We knew someone also on the list and are having the same feelings as you.
The question I have is do the ends justify the means? My issue with prostitution concerns the sex trafficking that occurs to supply prostitutes. Will public humiliation stop men from seeking prostitutes, and, thereafter, stop sex trafficking? Or will legalization and regulation of prostitution end trafficking? I don't know the answer.
But, I do like Vince's analysis. :)
Erik Scheibe

My favorite debate :) do the "Ends justify the means?" My take is that usually if you are asking the question, the answer is no. There has to be a better way of criminally protecting the public from human trafficking than this. Great Blog Ben!

Submitted by NULL (not verified) on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 04:00

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It has become abundantly clear to me that Constitutional rights in general have been taking a pretty good beating in the last year. The first amendment is under attack with the AP nonsense and by defacto the IRS issue. I won't even start on what they are doing to the second amendment. Now it appears that we cannot even be given a trial by jury before someone is found guilty and held up to the ridicule of these acts before they are even fully investigated, a right to face the accuser or in general ensure that the individual rights of these people is guaranteed before it is put out in publication in the public eye. We are truly heading down a slippery slope in this country and our government seems to be leading the charge.

hmmm...still learning how to do this thing...my name didn't show up...Roy Scott
Riva Schwartz

Can't make too many comments, for obvious reasons, we represent some defendants, but it was a minor transgression that should not be punished in the press

Submitted by Lucas_Meyer on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 06:46

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Lucas Meyer

Sex between consenting adults is no one's damned business. Period. And I wholeheartedly agree with Cheri on the use of taxpayer's funds...

I also long-ago became persuaded that we should legalize all drugs. And then tax and regulate their distribution. Put the drug lords and the mafia immediately out of business and save untold billions in law enforcement.

The bottom line on both of these activities is that people are going to engage in both behaviors no matter what.
Andrew Lavin

You all assume that the women were consenting. Sex trafficking is a huge problem in this country. As to whether the men should be punished in public -- the only way to stop the demand is to dry up the supply. But since that won't ever go away, I feel for every one of these guys and their families and the havoc it will wreak. Remember, there are cameras -- everywhere.
Corey Bearak

I prefer a focus on other activities; one wishes those who got tempted would be able to exert control, but alas people do succumb. Not keen on the scarlet letter approach after an arrest which likely will not result in a sentence of any consequence beyond the humiliation of a public arrest. Do recall during Koch administration that arrested johns got publicized.

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