Carrying Condoms Can Get You Arrested in Louisiana

According to a new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW), aggressive police harassment in New Orleans is directly undermining the city’s efforts to prevent and treat HIV infections. Despite the fact that Louisiana has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the nation — in fact, the number of people dying from AIDS in the state is more than double the national average — the report claims that it “has chosen punishment over public health” for the marginalized communities at risk for infection, such as sex workers and drug users.

Specifically, law enforcement officials are cracking down on prostitution in a way that HRW believes is actually encouraging the spread of HIV. New Orleans is so intent on identifying potential sex workers that it allows cops to prosecute “loitering for prostitution,” an incredibly vague statute that results in arbitrarily targeting people in public. Officers randomly stop people who they deem suspicious and search them for evidence of prostitution — and, if they find condoms, that can be enough for an arrest.

Sassy wrote:I think that is one of the most insane things I have heard recently.

Lurker wrote:

According to a new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW), aggressive police harassment in New Orleans is directly undermining the city’s efforts to prevent and treat HIV infections. Despite the fact that Louisiana has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the nation — in fact, the number of people dying from AIDS in the state is more than double the national average — the report claims that it “has chosen punishment over public health” for the marginalized communities at risk for infection, such as sex workers and drug users.

Specifically, law enforcement officials are cracking down on prostitution in a way that HRW believes is actually encouraging the spread of HIV. New Orleans is so intent on identifying potential sex workers that it allows cops to prosecute “loitering for prostitution,” an incredibly vague statute that results in arbitrarily targeting people in public. Officers randomly stop people who they deem suspicious and search them for evidence of prostitution — and, if they find condoms, that can be enough for an arrest.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/12/16/3068621/police-harassment-sex-workers-louisiana/

Lurker wrote:

According to a new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW), aggressive police harassment in New Orleans is directly undermining the city’s efforts to prevent and treat HIV infections. Despite the fact that Louisiana has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the nation — in fact, the number of people dying from AIDS in the state is more than double the national average — the report claims that it “has chosen punishment over public health” for the marginalized communities at risk for infection, such as sex workers and drug users.

Specifically, law enforcement officials are cracking down on prostitution in a way that HRW believes is actually encouraging the spread of HIV. New Orleans is so intent on identifying potential sex workers that it allows cops to prosecute “loitering for prostitution,” an incredibly vague statute that results in arbitrarily targeting people in public. Officers randomly stop people who they deem suspicious and search them for evidence of prostitution — and, if they find condoms, that can be enough for an arrest.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/12/16/3068621/police-harassment-sex-workers-louisiana/

Andrea Borman wrote:Yes it the same thing here in England. If you go to the red light districts of London,Manchester or another city. The police are out looking for prostitutes to arrest as soliciting is illegal here. So if they see a woman walking around the vice district with condoms in her bag, they think she is a prostitute as they carry Durex. So you can be arrested for soliciting.

Officers randomly stop people who they deem suspicious and search them for evidence of prostitution — and, if they find condoms, that can be enough for an arrest.

Ben_Reilly wrote:

Officers randomly stop people who they deem suspicious and search them for evidence of prostitution — and, if they find condoms, that can be enough for an arrest.

The condoms don't have to be in plain view; the police can stop people for anything "they deem suspicious."

Lurker wrote:Sadly, no, it's real.

Beekeeper wrote:   LET'S not forget that just up the road in places like Colorado, Kansas and Kentucky 12 year olds can carry guns in public as long as they have their parent's permission...

And buy their own guns once they're OVER 16 years old (as was seen in last weeks latest school shooting..) ~ they don't even need licenses in four of those redneck states !

IN Florida and Texas they let murderers off the hook for shooting people in cold blood ~ as long as the victims are black or coloured, and the perp' is a white moron being lauded by the NRA and the Faux News network as some sort of "All American Hero" ??

They can join the military once they turn 17, and be sent overseas as "cannon fodder" once they're over 18  ~ but still can't legally buy alcohol until they turn 21 !!

And NOW Louisiana imagines that they can crack down on streetwalkers by outlawing condoms ???

THOSE rednecks in the deep south and mid-west regions really ARE off on another planet, aren't they !    

captainJane wrote:Maybe there needs to be some amendments made. Not only with who owns a gun but how the law enforcements are permitted to behave while doing their paid duty in protecting the public.

Cantankerous wrote:

Beekeeper wrote:   LET'S not forget that just up the road in places like Colorado, Kansas and Kentucky 12 year olds can carry guns in public as long as they have their parent's permission...

And buy their own guns once they're OVER 16 years old (as was seen in last weeks latest school shooting..) ~ they don't even need licenses in four of those redneck states !

IN Florida and Texas they let murderers off the hook for shooting people in cold blood ~ as long as the victims are black or coloured, and the perp' is a white moron being lauded by the NRA and the Faux News network as some sort of "All American Hero" ??

They can join the military once they turn 17, and be sent overseas as "cannon fodder" once they're over 18  ~ but still can't legally buy alcohol until they turn 21 !!

And NOW Louisiana imagines that they can crack down on streetwalkers by outlawing condoms ???

THOSE rednecks in the deep south and mid-west regions really ARE off on another planet, aren't they !    

and in other states they let murderers off if they can't put on a  pair of gloves if they's black.