Drugs and prostitution: one vice begets another in Utica

Tools

Drugs and prostitution: one vice begets another in Utica

By JOLEEN FERRIS

Story Created: Oct 10, 2008 at 5:59 PM EST

Story Updated: Oct 10, 2008 at 6:13 PM EST

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Almost every time Utica police arrest a prostitute....they're arresting a drug addict, too.

Drug addiction is the driving force that propelled 46-year-old Karen Murray, of Utica, onto the streets. Murray's body is a road map of needle tracks; more than 20 years spent selling her body in order to finance her next fix.

It's difficult to fight the problem because there is little incentive for a prostitute, facing 30-90 days in county jail, to opt instead for a grueling, year-long drug rehabilitation program.

Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara says there's talk of strengthening the sentencing structure for misdemeanors, similar to what is done for felonies. Commit more than one felony within ten years and you're going to state prison; but you can have unlimited prostitution arrests in that time and not spend a single day in state prison.

McNamara says that it is often the prospect of a lengthy state prison term that prompts people to give rehab a try.

Only the state legislature can change the sentencing structure for misdemeanors.

User Agreement

View comments

The following comments do not necessarily represent the views of NBC-WKTV News Channel 2. Users have agreed to these terms and in doing so accept full responsibility for their comments. Moderation is limited.

Monday, Oct 13 at 10:25 AM whatever wrote ...

I love how everyone rips on the prostitutes and nothing for the Johns, they are NEVER held accountable. Utica has a DRUG problem, and once that has setteled, you wont see a prostitute problem, how about getting more funding to send people to rehab rather than a jail cell, it may work. Break the cycle, duh... it is simple.

Flag for moderation

Sunday, Oct 12 at 10:53 AM a taxpayer wrote ...

they don't go to prison. Jail time at OCJ-go down and get welfare-be a prostitute-get drugs. That is the AMERICAN way to earn a living.Oh, is that working UNDERCOVER and can't be claimed as income so they can collect welfare.

Flag for moderation

Sunday, Oct 12 at 10:41 AM andy wrote ...

whatever happened to our x govener Spitzer? he liked prostitutes...

Flag for moderation

Sunday, Oct 12 at 9:58 AM wow wrote ...

earn a living? it's not earning a living to sell your body for sex, it's disgusting. there are a million jobs that they could get, most of which do not require any education or experience. prostitution is not making a living, it's being a scumbag and not finding a real job.

Flag for moderation

Saturday, Oct 11 at 8:38 PM Qball69 wrote ...

You can say what you want but at least these girls try to earn a living.

Flag for moderation

Saturday, Oct 11 at 8:02 PM drugs/prostitution..... wrote ...

We need our streets safe.how can THAT be when ya have these prostitutes on the st.,and,whos to say they are not mean!! if they dont get their $ to get what they want/need,they DO get mean..ive dealt with one !!!they need 'help' ! what 'bout rehab,long term !!! taxpayers pay 4 their 'stay'in lockup,why not pay 4 their lockup in a(mandated)rehab center !!!! there are women out there who are moms,too,and,dodothis! i know of a mom who had kid taken due to leaving kid alone(!)and got caught(by cps):)

Flag for moderation

Saturday, Oct 11 at 6:33 PM Confused Parent wrote ...

I bet some of the Utica Pd are getting very nervous because they soon will be charged with helping the drug and prostitutes out and making a few dollars themselves or should i say thousands

Flag for moderation

Saturday, Oct 11 at 1:12 PM WAD wrote ...

THE DA AND JUDGES TALK GOOD TALK AND THATS IT. THE JUDGES IN UTICA RARELY GIVE THE MAX 90 DAYS TO GIRLS THAT HAVE 20 OR MORE ARRESTS. WHY WOULD ANYONE THINK THEY WOULD EVER GO TO PRISON IF THE LAWS WERE TO CHANGE. ONEIDA COUNTY IS THE PLEA-BARGAING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!!!!!

Flag for moderation

Saturday, Oct 11 at 9:16 AM Chris wrote ...

Is this story an attempt to garner sympathy for these prostitutes? We all have to deal with the consequences of the choices we make.

Flag for moderation

Saturday, Oct 11 at 12:03 AM Waste of money? wrote ...

Is there really a reason to incarcerate prostitutes longer? They are arguably no danger to anyone. If they are diseased and pass to a client who passes to someone else that is awful, but there is no good reason to waste tons of dollars on keeping them locked away. It's a victimless crime. I make fun of the pro-pot people, but if you legalize prostitution at leas you can make them be clean...

Flag for moderation

Friday, Oct 10 at 9:53 PM Joe wrote ...

An addict doesnt care about doing time. Its quite simple....get the drugs off the streets with longer prison sentences for the SELLERS. They know what they are doing. Get the drugs off the street and we get rid of the majority of the crime. In most cases the only people carrying guns are drug dealers. No drugs, no drug wars, no drive by shootings. Get rid of the drugs and cut down the vast majority of other crimes.

Flag for moderation

Friday, Oct 10 at 8:34 PM JETTAFIVE wrote ...

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA MR. MCNAMARA, THESE GIRLS RUN THE STREETS THEN GO BUY THERE DRUGS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU SHOULD GET THESE GIRLS TO TALK SO THAT THE POLICE CAN ARREST THE DRUG DEALERS. NOW YOU JUST HAVE TO GET THE JUDGES TO DO MORE THAN SLAP THE DEALERS ON THE HANDS AND SAY DON'T DO THIS AGAIN, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT APROACH IS NOT WORKING. YOU SEE THE GIRLS ALL OVER UTICA AND YOU SEE THE DEALERS ALL OVER AS WELL YOU THINK ITS TIME TO "CRACK" DOWN ON THIS NONSENSE...

Flag for moderation

Friday, Oct 10 at 8:13 PM Wrong Way wrote ...

You can't legislate morality. Stop punishing women for trying to make money for themselves. In Europe drug treatment is free, sex is for sale and there is less incidence of abuse of both. We need to grow up as a country and stop punishing the real victims of prostitution: the prostitutes themselves.

Flag for moderation

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

NBC-WKTV News Channel 2 and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

I have read and agree to the terms

Hide comments

Weather On Demand

Weather Radar
Icon
Current Temp 39 °F
Mostly Cloudy
Wind : From the West at 15 MPH
Humidity : 73 %
Pressure : 30.03" (1017.3 mb) in.
Wind Chill : 31 °F
More Weather

On Demand

AP Video

Stock Quotes

Permanent Client link holder

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Viewer Poll

Who do you feel should replace Hillary Clinton as a U.S. Senator?

  • Attorney General Andrew Cuomo
  • U.S. Representative Kirsten Gillibrand
  • U.S. Representative Nydia Velazquez
  • Someone else you feel is more qualified

What's On