at 1:40 pm NPR
Manhattan s district attorney announced Wednesday that his office will no longer prosecute prostitution and unlicensed massage under a new policy that s believed to be the first of its kind in New York.
Cyrus Vance Jr. also appeared virtually in Manhattan Criminal Court to request the dismissal of more than 900 such cases dating back to the 1970s, according to a press release. He moved to dismiss another 5,000 cases related to the state s controversial anti-loitering statute, which New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo repealed in February.
In a statement, Vance noted the disproportionate impact of such laws on the LGBTQ community and other vulnerable populations, and credited advocates and survivors with making this set of reforms possible.
On Verge Of Retirement, Manhattan DA To Stop Prosecuting Prostitution
arrow Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. leaves court in 2020. Richard Drew/AP/Shutterstock
Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance will stop prosecuting people arrested on charges of prostitution and unlicensed massage, a policy change his office describes as the first of its kind in the state.
Vance made the announcement during an appearance in court on Wednesday, when he dismissed 914 prostitution and non-licensed massage cases dating back to the 1970s, as well as more than 5,000 “loitering for the purpose of prostitution” cases, following New York State’s repeal of the so-called “walking while trans” statute earlier this year.
A Relic And Burden : Manhattan District Attorney To Stop Prosecuting Prostitution wabe.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wabe.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.