58 For prostitutes, being labeled as a criminal can mean that a woman may lose custody of her children, especially since there is a mandatory jail sentence on second conviction. Immigrants who work as prostitutes, particularly people of color, have fewer economic alternatives due to institutional racism and can face deportation if convicted of prostitution. Therefore they are unlikely to report violence against them. Although pimping and pandering laws are ineffective and rarely used against those who exploit and abuse prostitutes, these charges are brought against prostitutes working together. 59 Women working in hotels are harassed by security guards.
Landlords often refuse to rent to sex workers or overcharge for substandard accommodations.
Sex workers who are found out may get evicted and end up working on the streets. The majority of Task Force members came to the conclusion that decriminalization of prostitution was the best way to address the concerns of every constituency. Residents' valid concerns about quality of life, yet support for decriminalization, was a conflict more apparent than real. The best way to ameliorate poor neighborhood conditions and at the same time save the City money is to focus on the direct causes of the complaints and not on prostitution itself. Likewise, without undercover sting operations there would not be the same opportunity for police abuse and constitutional violations.