HB2857 makes a paradigm shift, acknowledging that child prostitution is a form of commercial sexual exploitation and that these children should be treated as victims, not as criminals.
Amends the law such that: 1) a person under 18 suspected of prostitution won’t be charged, prosecuted or booked into detention, and 2) law enforcement will either make a child abuse or neglect report, deliver youth for mental health and/or substance use evaluation and treatment or any other appropriate services.
For purposes of prosecutorial diversion, amends the language of part of the law from ‘the offenses of prostitution” to “a prostitution loitering offense.
