Maine Governor Signs Bill Into Law To Partially Legalize Prostitution in State

Maine Governor Janet Mills signed a bill into law that partially legalizes prostitution in the state. Advocates of the bill state that the measure intends to protect the vulnerable while targeting those who take advantage of them.

On June 26, Maine Governor Janet Mills signed a bill into law that partially legalized prostitution in the state. The advocates of the bill state that the measure intends to protect the most vulnerable while targeting those who take advantage of the victims.

An article in USNews.com states that the bill signed by the Maine governor was sponsored by Democratic Representative Lois Reckitt. According to Reckitt, the law will banish the crime upon engaging in prostitution.

At the same time, it will also raise the sentence for solicitating a child for commercial sexual exploitation. This means that the crime will be raised from a misdemeanor to a felony with a sentence of up to five years in a state prison.

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Advocates of the Bill Signed by Maine Governor

According to Homer, Reckitt joined the Maine governor for the signing ceremony two years after Mills vetoed a related bill. Advocates of the bill stated that most of the victims who were smuggled for prostitution came from marginalized communities.

National director of World Without Exploitation Lauren Hersh also stated that Maine is spearheading the abolishment of criminalizing survivors while holding the perpetrators responsible for the traumatic harm they caused the victims.

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