Your Saved Resources Close

  • Saved resources will appear here

Share

Is Sex Work Decriminalization the Answer? What the Research Tells Us

This research brief reviews existing empirical research on the impacts of decriminalization — and conversely criminalization — of sex work to inform recommendations for policy and practice. The ACLU has a history of supporting the decriminalization of sex work, but as efforts for U.S. legislative reform at the local, state, and federal level grow, examining the potential impacts of proposed policies is critical. Developed in consultation with local affiliates and sex worker organizers, this Brief provides an assessment of the growing evidence base on the potential benefits and harms of the decriminalization of consensual sex work (including buyer-only criminalization and full criminalization) and concludes with specific recommendations for policymakers, law enforcement, advocates, and researchers.

Access the full report here.

more
resources

Reviving 287(g) Agreements Under the New Administration: Implementation, Concerns, and Implications

Spring 2026

By definition, 287(g) agreements offer agencies a formalized framework for collaboration with federal authorities, access to additional training, and a...

WARRANT SERVICE OFFICER PROGRAM A DECEPTIVE NEW MODEL FOR 287(g)

Spring 2026

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently announced a new program for co-opting local sheriffs into deporting immigrants called the “Warrant...

287(g) is Impacting Communities Across the United States. Here’s What You Need to Know.

Spring 2026

287(g): A Legal Mechanism for State Violence 287(g) is a provision of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility...