ion. Undoubtedly, the government will earn revenue from brothels and be able to monitor part of the sex industry. A significant benefit to government involvement in prostitution is that the regulations and standards will be set forth for all brothels to meet. This will allow for a clean and safe environment for both patrons and workers. Government regulation would also mean the elimination of pimps. Street prostitutes are normally controlled by a pimp, who usually keeps the prostitute dependent on drugs so that he or she can control the amount of money that the prostitute makes. While many critics may maintain that prostitution is immoral and unethical, the issue cannot be denied. Prostitution happens all over the world and in most cities. A great deal of money and time is spent attempting to stop illegal prostitution. When a prostitute is picked up by the police, she or he usually spends a night in jail, goes to court, pays a fine, serves a short time in jail and/or completes community service. Then, the prostitute is released and is back on the streets in no time. Dennis Martin, president of the National Association of Police Chiefs, once observed that "prostitution enforcement is erratic and depends completely on how much the public complains and on pressure from politicians. It's much too time-consuming, and police forces are short-staffed" ("Prostitutes," CQ 32). Many citizens feel that police efforts should be directed towards more serious crimes, such as drug trafficking. With the cost of court fees, enforcement, and jail housing for the convicted prostitutes, some citizens are beginning to wonder if the government is approaching the problem correctly. "In 1985 it was calculated that each of America's biggest cities spent $12 mill. a year fighting prostitution . . . Mr. Richwald [a doctor from the University of Los Angeles] guesses that prostitution costs Los Angeles at least $100 mill. a year" ("Street Cleaning" 25). For many pe...
