Decriminalization in Rhode Island

For decades, Rhode Island effectively decriminalized indoor, consensual sex work—and the sky didn't fall. It got safer. Kaytlin traces the legal fight, the raids, and the politics, then digs into new evidence: a ~40% drop in gonorrhea among women and ~30% fewer reported rapes during the decrim window. With voices from attorney Michael Kiselica, ACLU's Steven Brown, COYOTE RI's Bella Robinson, and economist Manisha Shah, this episode shows what happens when you stop arresting adults for consensual sex.

Guests:

• Michael Kiselica (attorney) on litigating "public" vs. private and the 2003 decision.

• Steven Brown (ACLU RI) on the 1976 COYOTE suit and 1980 revisions.

• Bella Robinson (COYOTE RI) on lived experience, raids, and organizing.

• Prof. Manisha Shah (UCLA Luskin) on the natural experiment and causal impacts.

• Prof. Aya Gruber (USC Gould) on panic, racism, and "neo-abolitionist" coalitions.

Key findings discussed: ~40% decrease in gonorrhea; ~30% decrease in reported rapes during RI's decrim period.

Policy context: 2009 recriminalization + punitive add-ons (HIV testing mandates, special fines); recent partial rollbacks and limited immunity reforms.

Big idea: Decriminalization increases negotiating power, enables cooperation with police, and reduces harm. "End-demand" shifts risk onto workers.