Adolescent Female Prostitutes: Criminals or Victims? 49where payment is involved" (p. 82). Jesson (1993) explains that payment is not
only defined by money but with anything of exchangeable value such as drugs,
food, shelter, or clothing. Although adult female prostitution is being explored as
a form of work in feminist theory, the adolescent prostitute is still excluded from
this perspective. She is viewed as a victim of deviant adult behavior and frequently
of her own past.
Often, these individuals have suffered physical, emotional, and sexual abuse
within their family unit. The ranks of juvenile prostitutes abound with runaways
or "throwaways." According to Weisberg (1985), intervention by officers usually
occurs in the form of an arrest or harassment with little regard for treatment or
rehabilitation. Although these individuals engage in a variety of other criminal or
delinquent behaviors, they have very complex mental health needs that are not being
adequately addressed through the juvenile justice system. Consider the following
case illustration.
Kara is a fifteen-year-old Caucasian female living in a large metropolitan area. Kara
conies from a single-parent household, her father having left before she was born. She
lias never met or spoken with him. From as tar back as she can remember, her mother
has had various "boyfriends" living with them in the two-bedroom apartment that also
houses Kara's two younger brothers. As Kara's mother has been employed infrequently,
and her various "boyfriends" have contributed little financially to the family, they have
often been confined to modest, if not altogether poor, living circumstances. At times.
they have nearly been evicted as rent money has not always been available.
Beginning in early childhood, at age 5 or 6, Kara was subjected to hurtful and
psychologically devastating verbal abuse. While her mother rarely struck her physically,
her violent outbursts were often directed at Kara. Starting at age 7, she was sexually
molested by her mother's live-in "boyfriend." Perhaps the most damaging element of his
attacks was her mothers refusal to believe the sexual abuse was occurring.
At the age of 13, Kara took to the streets to "get away" from her troubles at home.
Having no money, shelter, or food, Kara was quick to accept the help offered to her by
other young girls living on the streets. These girls gave Kara the sort of friendship and
"care-structure" that was not available to her at home. As Kara would come to find out,
however, these girls were prostitutes, utilizing the only resource they believed they had
to survive. At the age of 14, Kara began prostituting herself.
Now Kara has been discovered by the local police. While she has had no prior
contact with the police and is otherwise a "good citizen," she has nonetheless engaged
in activities that are illegal. Kara assures the police that she has chosen this way of life
both knowingly and in a rational manner. She insists that she will continue to prostitute
herself, as it allows her to "get the things she wants" and "not have to go back home."
What are the police to do in Kara's situation?Literature Review
Cases like Kara's illustrate the conflict facing law enforcement .when dealing with
adolescent prostitutes. They are faced with an individual breaking the law, yet
what options are available to this child? Despite the abundance of research and