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Accidental decriminalization of indoor sex work in Rhode Island.

1980

SW
LLP

Legislators alter a phrase in a law that describes sex acts by "prostitutes," and explicitly forbid "street prostitution," but inadvertently delete the phrase that describes indoor sex work.

This loophole will later be exploited and made public in 2003, when a district court judge dismisses "prostitution" charges against a group of massage parlor employees because their actions do not fall within the existing definition of "prostitution." Rhode Island will recriminalize indoor sex work in 2009.