New York State is considering two approaches to decriminalizing sex work. One would legalize the profession; the other would continue the threat to punish everyone involved except the prostitutes themselves.

I agree that it is important to protect sex workers from enslavement and exploitation. However, prosecuting customers and answering services makes no sense at all.

Legalization does not have to imply deregulation -- many other kinds of businesses are regulated, and sex businesses can be too. When trafficking becomes frequent in any kind of business, the regulations can be designed to catch traffickers.