LA sheriff's office to stop arresting children for prostitution

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

LA sheriff's office to stop arresting children for prostitution
Reuters
By Victoria Cavaliere
1 hour ago

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced on Wednesday it was changing its policy on the treatment of children sold for sex, ordering officers to stop arresting youths on prostitution charges.

In a message sent to the department's more than 18,000 employees, Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell also encouraged law enforcement to change the language used to describe youths bought and sold for sex.

"While at times some have used the terms ‘child prostitute’ or ‘underage prostitution’ to describe victims of child rape, children cannot consent to sex,” he said.

"We must recognize the importance of law enforcement’s clear communication regarding who these victims truly are -- they are child victims and survivors of rape," the message read.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/la-sheriffs-office-stop-arresting-children-prostitution-040820407.html

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. good

[KT2000]

2. would have thought

Los Angeles would have figured that our a long time ago.

[McCamy Taylor]

3. But a minor has been accused of child pornography for sending nude photos of herself.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. They should stop all arrests for prostitution.

[Ed Suspicious]

6. Except for the pimp

[bravenak]

7. Exactly

[NotHardly]

5. Who does not know that child equals "victim" in assault, abuse, or rape except the police?????

Where were the sane and compassionate officers who might provide shelter, comfort and care to victims if only their mssion has something to do with protect and serve, rather than focus and screen.

It makes my heart ache

[gwheezie]

8. For many it starts with family

And then they are prey for being turned out. It's horrifying the number of young adults I meet with criminal records for prostitution as teens who initially were pimped out by their own families all the way back to when they were toddlers.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

9. Sounds like they adopted the United Nation's stance on child soldiers.

[niyad]

10. geez, and it only took them HOW long to figure this out?