The constitutional iniquity involved in all forms of the regulation of prostitution

This forceful work examines the moral and constitutional consequences of government attempts to regulate prostitution. It argues that such policies are not merely questions of public morality or health, but forms of penal legislation that can undermine liberty, equality, and the foundations of a just legal system.

Drawing on principles of constitutional law, the discussion sets out the safeguards that should protect every accused person: the presumption of innocence, clear charges, access to a defence, reliable evidence, public proceedings, and punishment proportionate to an offence. Against this standard, the author challenges regulations that subjected women to official suspicion, intimidation, and examination without the protections of an ordinary trial.

Passionate, reasoned, and rooted in nineteenth-century debates over the Contagious Diseases Acts, the book presents abolition as a matter of civil rights as well as social reform. It will interest listeners exploring women’s history, legal reform, public policy, and the enduring tension between state power and individual freedom.