The practice of seizing condoms from sex workers to use as evidence against them in prostitution cases will be limited, The New York Times reports. However, the policy change still allows for using condoms as evidence in sex trafficking cases.
The New York Police Department announced the change, which has the support of Mayor Bill de Blasio and the five district attorneys in the city. In 2013, the Brooklyn district attorney announced a stop to using condoms as evidence of prostitution.
Advocates and public health officials have lobbied for this change for years. They claim that using condoms as evidence against sex workers adversely affects safer sex practices. Nonetheless, the Access to Condoms Coalition seeks additional changes.
Since condoms can still be used as evidence in sex trafficking cases, the coalition is concerned about safer sex practices for people involved in such circumstances. Further, sex workers with condoms are still subject to arrest if trafficking is suspected.
To read the Times article, click here.
To read the coalition statement, click here.
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