SALT LAKE CITY The Utah Legislature approved a bill Tuesday to toughen penalties for prostitution-related crimes. <\/p>\n
The House passed SB230 with a 71-1 vote, sending it to Gov. Gary Herbert's desk for his consideration. <\/p>\n
The bill would give \"teeth\" to Utah's ability to prosecute prostitution, said House sponsor Rep. Mike Winder, R-West Valley City. <\/p>\n
\"We have a real problem,\" he said. \"This is not a real victimless crime.\" <\/p>\n
Winder said 75 percent of women who engage in prostitution work for a \"pimp.\" <\/p>\n
The bill would better equip law enforcement, he said, because it would expand the reasons why an individual could be found guilty of prostitution. <\/p>\n
Under current law, a person can only be convicted if he or she engages in a sexual act for money. But SB230 would include if a person \"offers or agrees\" to engage in sexual activity for money. <\/p>\n
\"With the teeth, we can go after the pimps, the Johns and those involved in this,\" Winder said. <\/p>\n
The bill would also change patronizing a prostitute from a class B misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor, with a third conviction for that crime becoming a third-degree felony. <\/p>\n
Aiding or facilitating an act of prostitution would also be enhanced to a class A misdemeanor, with all subsequent convictions becoming third-degree felonies. <\/p>\n
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Original post:<\/p>\n
Legislature boosts penalties for prostitution-related crimes - Deseret News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SALT LAKE CITY The Utah Legislature approved a bill Tuesday to toughen penalties for prostitution-related crimes. The House passed SB230 with a 71-1 vote, sending it to Gov Continue reading