The Manhattan district attorney will stop prosecuting unlicensed prostitution and massages – and is issuing thousands of warrants dating back to 1975.
DA Cyrus Vance Jr. appeared in Manhattan criminal court almost Wednesday to ask Judge Charlotte Davidson to lift 5,994 warrants of arrest and dismiss the underlying allegations of prostitution, unlicensed massages and hanging out for prostitution.
The motion was upheld and cases dating back to 1975 were dropped.
For years, the Manhattan DA has offered services and programs to people facing these costs.
“Now we will refuse to prosecute these arrests outright, providing services and support on a voluntary basis only,” said Vance, adding that his office is the first in the state to take this step.
Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez’s office also refuses to prosecute prostitution cases, but only after services have been offered to defendants, a spokesman said.
“This announcement shows that the Manhattan DA is determined to change its approach to sex trafficking by decriminalizing prostitutes and supporting those most at risk of exploitation,” said Reverend Dr. Que English of the New York State Anti-Trafficking Coalition.
Cecilia Gentili, founder of Transgender Equity Consulting, praised the new policy.
“This bold move to actively decriminalize sex workers is the kind of change our community has been hoping for and advocating for decades,” she said.
Most of the layoffs in Manhattan have involved hanging out with a view to prostitution cases – the so-called Walking While Trans law – which proponents say has long been unfairly targeting minorities.
Earlier this year, the state legislature deleted the controversial statute from his books.
In response, the Brooklyn, Queens and Bronx prosecutors have decided to lift bank orders arising from this indictment and dismiss all open cases.
Most of the city’s prosecutors had stopped prosecuting the crime years before it was withdrawn.
A spokesman for Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon previously told The Post that his office would follow suit.
