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Abstract: 

On May 31, 2007, the Safe Harbor for Exploited Youth Act was submitted to the New York Senate for the first time. After being amended twice and dying in the Senate once, it was finally passed on June 23, 2008. (New York State Assembly, Bill Summary A05258 (Jul. 2008); available at http://Assembly.State.NY.us/ leg/?bn=A5258.) The Safe Harbor for Exploited Youth Act would decriminalize first acts of prostitution for youth 16 and under, and the youth would be classified as “persons in need of supervision” (PINS). Each local social service district would be required to: €¢ Determine the needs of sexually exploited youth;€¢ Provide a short-term safe house and necessary services (e.g., counseling, shelter, and protection) for the youth; and €¢ Provide training for law enforcement in order to successfully identify such youth and refer them to the appropriate agency.If the Act is passed by Governor Paterson, the legislation will take effect in April 2010.

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Affiliations:  1: John Jay College of Criminal Justice.