Whom Is the Law Structured to Protect?

An op-ed from Bob Herbert that discusses, amongst other issues, imprisoning young children who have been forced into prostitution while letting the people who took advantage of them go free.

The op-ed starts out by discussing a POLICE DETECTIVE and his girlfriend who allegedly "bought" a girl for $500 and forced her to perform sexual acts at parties. A police detective?!? Many victims of violent crimes often express hesitation to call the police or to reach out for help from law enforcement agents. These people are often then blamed for not doing so by others who claim "if they really wanted out of the situation they would have done something about it"--well, when a police detective is prostituting a 13-year-old girl it may have the effect of making others slightly uneasy about the extent to which they can trust officers. Not to mention the other point that the article goes on to make which is that too often the real victim of the crime gets put behind bars. I have to admit, however, that I know a few people who would say that anyone put into prostitution can run, can hide, can call the police and his or her reluctance to do so equates content with that aspect of their life. That opinion paints a horribly simply picture of a crime that has many more aspects and complications as this article exemplifies.