Indoor prostitution ban one step closer

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - By a vote of 6 -1 the Senate Judiciary Committee has passed a bill that would make indoor prostitution illegal in Rhode Island.

It now heads to the full senate for a vote scheduled for on Thursday. The bill would close a nearly 30 year old loophole in the state prostitution law that has allowed brothels to operate in the Ocean State legally.

Rhode Island is the only state in the nation with the exception of some counties in Nevada that allow indoor prostitution.

Senator Paul Jabour said, "The main focus is closing that loophole which would prevent indoor prostitution, which is vital to law enforcement which is why it is being passed."

On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee voted 11-3 to pass an identical bill which would criminalize indoor prostitution. The full house is voting on the bill.

If both the full house and full senate pass the bill, Governor Carcieri has said he would sign it into law.