CRYSTAL: HI EVERYBODY.

I AM CRYSTAL HAYNES.

TONIGHT, THE CITY HAS AGREED TO A DISK OF INITIAL SETTLEMENT IN THE TWO THOUSAND FIVE LAWSUIT OVER THE DRUG HAIR TES WHICHT IS PRONE TO FALSE POSITIVES AMONG PEOPLE OF COLOR.

PLUS, -- >> THIS CONDUCT IS HAPPENING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

CRYSTAL: WAS FEDERAL AGENTS INVESTIGATE A MAJOR PRESENTATION RING, ADVOCATES ARE PUSHING TO PROTECT SEX WORKERS THROUGH THE CRIMINALIZATION.

I WILL TALK TO A PAIR OF THEM AHEAD.

♪ IN A SETTLEMENT 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING, THE CITY OF BOSTON IS THAT TWO.

MORE THAN $2.5 MILLION OVER THE USE OF A DRUG HAIR TEST THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY TURNS OUT FALSE-POSITIVES FOR BLACK OFFICERS.

THE LAWSUIT BEGAN BACK IN 2005 AFTER TWO OFFICERS WERE FIRED, ONE SUSPENDED AND ONE CADET WAS PREVENTED FROM JOINING THE BPD, ALL AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR COCAINE DESPITE MAINTAINING THE HAD NEVER USED THE DRUG.

ATTORNEYS FOR THE GROUP SAY CLIENTS'’ LIVES AND CAREERS WERE COMPLETELY DERAILED.

ONE OF THOSE ATTORNEYS IN THE LITIGATION DIRECTOR FOR THE LAWYERS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, OREN SELLSTROM, JOINING ME NOW ALONG WITH JEFFREY LOPES, PRESIDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION OF MINORITY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

FIRST, I WANT TO ASK YOU, JEFF, ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD MEAN TO THE MEMBERS OF LEOM BUT BPD.

JEFFREY: IF IT MEANS WE ARE AT A PLACE IN SOCIETY WILL GET TO JUSTICE THAT HAVE HELD US BACK OF THE COMMUNITY AND AS A COMMUNITY OF OFFICERS OF COLOR.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO A PLACE OF CONCEIVING WHERE WE FEEL INCLUDED AND WE CAN GROW JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE AND WE CAN FEEL LIKE WE ARE A PART OF A SOCIETY THAT CARES ABOUT ISSUES THAT IMPACT BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS.

THIS CASE HAS GONE ON WAY TOO LONG, HAS BEEN FILED BY MULTIPLE ADMINISTRATIONS, ADHERED WE ARE TODAY WITH THE VICTORY.

CRYSTAL: WE COME TO THREE MAYORS AND ONE INTERIM MAYOR.

THIS IS A LENGTHY LITIGATION FOR THIS OUTCOME.

OREN: ABSOLUTELY.

AS JEFF SAID, IT WENT ON FAR TOO LONG.

IT WAS MONTHS AFTER THE HAIR TEST WAS FIRST INSTITUTED, BACK IN THE EARLY 2000'’S, WHEN FOLKS LIKE MLEO WERE RAISING THE ALARM BELLS SEEING THIS TEST IS NOT RELIABLE IT SHOULDN'’T BE USED AND IT IS DISPROPORTIONATELY FALLING ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN OFFICERS.

IT TOOK 20 YEARS OF LITIGATION TO GET TO THE VENTURE ARE TODAY.

THAT IS WAY TOO LONG IT SHOULD HAPPEN MUCH SOONER.

CRYSTAL: FOR FOLKS WHO CURRENTLY FAMILIAR, THERE ARE ALWAYS SOMETHING TO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS CASE AS CLOSELY AS ALL OF US HAVE, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING UP TO THIS LAWSUIT?

OREN: THE BASIC PROBLEM WITH THIS HAIR TEST IS THAT WHERE IT CAN IDENTIFY DRUG ARTICLES IN THE AIR, IT CAN'’T TELL HOW THEY GOT THERE.

SO THERE ARE TWO WAYS DRUG PARTICLES CAN GET INTO THE HERE, THROUGH INTERNAL INGESTION WHICH IS THROUGH DRUG USE, BUT ALSO THROUGH EXTERNAL CONTAMINATION.

IT CAN COME FROM OUTSIDE.

AND IT TURNS OUT THAT DRUG PARTICLES ARE QUITE PREVALENT IN OUR EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENT.

SOMETHING LIKE HALF OF ALL DOLLAR BILLS IN CIRCULATION HAVE DRUG ARTICLES ON THEM.

THOSE CAN GET INTO THE HERE EXTERNALLY.

THIS HAIR TEST DID NOT -- DID NOT RELIABLY IDENTIFY HOW THOSE PARTICLES GOT INTO THE HERE.

IT IS A PARTICULAR PROBLEM WITH BLACK OFFICERS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE AND TEXTURE OF BLACK HAIR, AS WELL AS GROOMING PRODUCTS COMMONLY USED BY AFRICAN-AMERICANS THE TEST THIS IMPLICITLY PRODUCED FALSE-POSITIVES FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN OFFICERS.

IT WAS UNRELIABLE, IT WAS DISCRIMINATORY AND IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN PUT INTO PRACTICE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

CRYSTAL: YES, I AM SURE WHEN A POLICE OFFICER, ESPECIALLY A POLICE OFFICER OF COLOR WALKS INTO A CASE OR RESPONSE TO A CALL, THE LAST THING THEY WANT TO BE WORRIED ABOUT IS IF THERE HERE WILL HOLD ONTO WHATEVER DRUG ARTICLES MAY BE IN THAT RACE SPACE.

JEFFREY: ABSOLUTELY.

OFFICERS WALK INTO SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE MAY BE USING DRUGS, DRUGS MAY BE IN THE AIR, IN THE AREA WHERE YOU ARE RESPONDING, DISCONTINUATION OF SOME SORT, THEY COULD COME ACROSS DRUG PARTICLES.

WITH A RESPONDING TO A 911, OR JUST ENGAGING THE CITIZEN IN THE STREET, FOR JUST HAVING LUNCH IN A RESTAURANT.

POLICE OFFICERS WANT TO FEEL PROTECTED AND KNOW DOING THEIR JOB, IT WOULDN'’T NECESSARILY INFECT THEM LATER ON.

THE HAIR TEST, THEY CUT OFF A PORTION OF YOUR HAIR.

IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO HISTORICALLY HAS HAD ISSUES CUTTING HAIR -- GROWING HAIR, YOUR HAIR CUT OFF EVERY YEAR HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR LIFE.

CRYSTAL: SO EVERY YEAR THEY HAD TO SUBMIT TO THIS TEST?

JEFFREY: EVERY YEAR, AN OFFICER'’S HAIR WAS GETTING CUT BY AND LOOK ADDITIONAL SERVICES PERSON WHO WOULD SUBMIT IT TO THE LAB.

CRYSTAL: WAS THIS SOMETHING RARE IN THE CULTURE OF BPD, BLACK OFFICERS WERE EVER CONCERNED ABOUT?

JEFFREY: ALL ALONG, OFFICERS WERE CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE FALSE-POSITIVES.

BUT WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE STRUGGLES GROWING HAIR, THAT IS ALSO AN ISSUE FOR BLACK WOMEN IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THERE HERE BEING CUT AND HAVING ISSUES GROWING THAT HERE BACK AND REALLY HAVING IT IMPACT THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES.

CRYSTAL: WE TALKED ABOUT A CADET, WE TALKED ABOUT TWO OFFICERS BEING FIRED, ONE BE SUSPENDED.

WHEN THE THINGS WOULD HAPPEN, I IMAGINE ON THE FORCE, FOLKS WERE TALKING ABOUT IT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

NOW IS THERE A SENSE OF VINDICATION BECAUSE PERHAPS THAT PERSON WAS DIFFERENTLY AFTER TESTING POSITIVE?

JEFFREY: UNFORTUNATELY AFTER YOU TEST POSITIVE, THERE IS A STIGMA THAT COMES ALONG WITH THAT.

YOU CAN'’T JUST WALK AWAY AND SAY EVERYTHING IS FIXED AND PEOPLE WILL NOT LOOK AT YOU A CERTAIN WAY.

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DON'’T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE CASE, THAT YOU CAN GET A FALSE POSITIVE, RIGHT, BUT TODAY DATE WE ARE SHOWING THAT SCIENCE HAS PROVED THIS.

NOT ONLY ARE WE SEEING THIS AS AN ORGANIZATION, OUR ATTORNEYS AND EXPERTS HAVE COME OUT AND SAY THAT THIS TEST IS NOT ACCURATE AND POSITIVE.

WE ARE HAPPY THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO RETURN BACK TO WORK, AND THAT TODAY, THEY ARE WORKING ALONGSIDE THEIR PEERS AND SEEING THE MOVIE STRONG THROUGH THIS.

WE WILL NOT LET A SYSTEM THAT HAS HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED PEOPLE OF COLOR TAKEAWAY EVER OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE CITIZENS OF BOSTON.

CRYSTAL: SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

THERE IS A MONETARY SETTLEMENT WITH THE BPD, THE CITY OF BOSTON, IS THERE ANY OTHER DIRECTION OR STEPS THAT THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE FOURTH HAS TO TAKE?

OREN: THE MAIN CHANGE HAPPENED IN 2020, WHICH IS THAT THE CITY ABANDONED THE USE OF THE HAIR TEST ALTOGETHER.

.

IT'’S NOT BEING USED NOW AND IT WILL NOT PLEASE GOING FORWARD.

THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT VICTORY OUR CLIENTS WAS IMPORTANT.

THEY KNEW WHAT THIS TEST AND THE FALSE-POSITIVES HAD DONE TO THEM AND THEY DIDN'’T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN TO ANYBODY ELSE.

IN 2020, AS PART OF THE MOVEMENT TO END RACISM, THE CITY ABANDONED THE HAIR TEST.

NOW THEY HAVE FINALLY COME FORWARD AND COMPENSATED THE INDIVIDUALS WHOSE LIVES WERE COMPLETELY TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BY THE FALSE-POSITIVES IN THE FIRST PLACE.

CRYSTAL: ARE THERE ANY OTHER CITIES OR EVEN STATES THAT IMPLEMENT A SIMILAR TEST, AND COULD THIS HAVE PRECEDENT IN OTHER CASES THAT MAY BE BROUGHT?

OREN: THERE ARE STILL CASES WHERE A VERSION OF THIS TEST IS STILL IN USE.

I KNOW THAT BECAUSE THAT LAWYERS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, WE GET CALLS FROM PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT READ ABOUT THIS CASE, THIS VICTORY AND SAY, HEY, THAT HAPPENED TO ME AS WELL.

SO IT IS STILL IN USE IN OTHER PLACES BUT FORTUNATELY NOT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.

CRYSTAL: COULD THIS CASE THEN BE PRECEDENT IN OTHER CASES?

OREN: ABSOLUTELY.

AND THE SCIENCE JEFFREY REFERRED TO THE KMART IN THE COURSE OF LITIGATION IS SOMETHING PEOPLE LOOK CLOSELY AT NOW, THE FACT THAT THE TEST CANNOT RELIABLY DETERMINE WHETHER DRUGS ARE IN THE AIR THROUGH INGESTION OR EXTERNAL CONTAMINATION.

THE FACT THAT THE COURTS HAVE HELD THAT IT IS SCIENTIFICALLY UNRELIABLE, IT IS VERY POWERFUL PRESIDENT THAT IS USED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT THIS POINT.

CRYSTAL: JEFF, I KNOW POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE CITY OF BOSTON FIRM LOOKING TO RECRUIT MORE FOLKS ONTO THE FORCE.

DO YOU THINK HAVING THE ABOLISHMENT OF THIS TEST IN 2020, BEING GONE, AND THEN NOW THIS CIVIL CASE BEING DECIDED, DO YOU THINK THAT IS GOING TO HELP CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET MORE FOLKS ON THE FORCE?

JEFFREY: ANY BARRIER THAT YOU CAN TAKE AWAY FROM RECRUITING MORE OFFICERS OF,, MORE FEMALE OFFICERS, AND BRING IN AN INCLUSIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT WILL BE KEY.

WE KNOW NOW THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE HOLES VISITORS -- WITH THE -- FALSE-POSITIVES WITH THE HAIR TEST.

I THINK WE AT A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN FEEL CONFIDENT IN TAKING THE CURRENT YEAR AND -- URINE TEST AND FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL NOT HAVE A FALSE POSITIVE.

THAT THEY WILL HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER IN BOSTON.

CRYSTAL: I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE TESTS YOU TAKE TO BECOME AN OFFICER, WHETHER THEY COULD HAVE DISPROPORTIONATE OUTCOMES OR DISCRIMINATORY OUTCOMES FOR CADETS OF COLOR.

DO WE SEE THIS AS ONE STEP OF MONEY TO MATURE THIS IS AN EQUITABLE SYSTEM?

JEFFREY: ABSOLUTELY, IT'’S ONE STEP, ONE OF MANY HURDLES OFFICERS OF COLOR HAVE FACED.

IT SPEAKS VICTORY TO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED WITH PROMOTION IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

HISTORICALLY, THIS DEPARTMENT OF ALWAYS BLAMED CIVIL SERVICE AND SAID IT WAS A REASON WHY THEY COULDN'’T PROMOTE OFFICERS OF COLOR TO MORE SUPERIOR RANKS.

BUT WE KNOW TODAY THAT THAT'’S NOT THE CASE.

THAT AN OFFICER -- OFFICERS OF COLOR ARE DOING BETTER IN THESE EXAMS, NOW SOME POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE CHANGED THE EXAM STRUCTURE.

THE CITY OF BOSTON CHANGED THEIR EXAM STRUCTURE AND DEPARTMENT HAD TO LEAN INTO MAKING SURE THEY TRULY WANT TO GO TO A PLACE OF EXCLUSIVITY.

THERE ARE OTHER BARRIERS LIKE SENIORITY AND OTHER MEASURES THAT POLICE DEPARTMENTS USE FOR PROMOTION THAT HISTORICALLY HAVE DISENFRANCHISED OFFICERS OF COLOR.

WE KNOW TODAY, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL LEVELS OF OFFICERS OF, REPRESENTED NOT ONLY WHEN THEY WALK IN THE DOOR, BUT ALSO WHEN THEY CLIMBED THE LADDER WITHIN POLICING.

BOSTON RECENTLY CELEBRATED ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE POLICE CLASSES GRADUATING FROM THE ACADEMY.

BUT THAT'’S JUST ONE STEP TO GETTING US TO A TRUE PLACE OF EQUITY.

IT IS NOW HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT, SERGEANT, CAPTAIN AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE IT'’S INCLUSIVE ALL AROUND BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY HELPS INTERNALLY, BUT IT HELPS WITH HOW WE ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.

CRYSTAL:E OREN, NEWFIELD A LOT OF THESE PHONE CALLS.

EVEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS NOT WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES.

TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THERE IS EQUITY AND BALANCE AND DIVERSITY.

DO YOU SEE THAT THIS IS SORT OF CREATING MOMENTUM TO CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE SPACE AMONG ALL CIVIL SERVICE POSITIONS?

OREN: ABSOLUTELY PERMIT WHAT IT REALLY SHOWS AND WHAT THIS CONVERSATION REVEALS IS THAT IT HAS TO BE AN ALL HANDS ON DECK EFFORT IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT DIVERSITY IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS.

IT HAS TO GO BEYOND JUST THE PLATITUDES OF SAYING WE VALUE DIVERSITY, BUT LOOKING AT DIVERSITY IN ALL ASPECTS.

FROM HOW PEOPLE GET INTO THE SYSTEM, WHAT OUTREACH IS DONE TO BRING PEOPLE ONTO THE FORCE, WHAT BARRIERS EXIST TO PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, HOW PEOPLE ARE BEING ATTAINED.

THEY HAVE TO BE EVALUATED AND ANALYZED AND WORKED AT.

THIS VICTORY HAVE ACHIEVED HERE IS ONE PIECE OF THAT.

WE HOPE IT BRINGS MORE MOMENTUM TO MOVE INTO SOME OF THOSE OTHER PLACES IN THE FUTURE AS WELL.

CRYSTAL: ALRIGHT,.

OREN SELLSTROM AND JEFFREY LOPES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

PERSECUTORS ARE LOOKING INTO A WIDESPREAD NETWORK OF WHAT THEY CALLED "HIGH-END BRAUNFELS IN MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW ENGLAND."

CHARGES WERE BROUGHT AGAINST THREE PEOPLE EARLIER THIS MONTH FOR ALLEGEDLY RUNNING THE BROTHELS, WHERE THEY SAY ELECTED OFFICIALS, MILITARY OFFICERS AND OTHER PROMINENT FIGURES ABOUT SEX -- BALTIC SEX, AND OTHER CHARGES AREN'’T LIKELY TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE CASE IS ME MAKING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE WAY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HANDLED THESE CASES, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO SEX WORKERS AND ARE THE MOST PUNISHED AND IMPRISONED GROUP IN THE SEX TRADE, DESPITE FACING HIGH RATES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

A GROUP OF STATE LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES ARGUE THE SOLUTION IS TO DECRIMINALIZE SEX WORK, BUT STILL HOLD BUYERS ACCOUNTABLE.

A GROUP PLANS TO DO JUST THAT.

TWO OF THE ACTIVISTS BACKING THE BILL JOIN ME NOW TO DISCUSS.

AUDRA DOODY IS THE CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SAFE EXIT INITIATIVE.

AND AUDREY MORRISSEY IS THE COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NONPROFIT MY LIFE MY CHOICE.

I AM ALSO JOINED BY DEPUTY INVESTIGATIVE EDITOR JENIFER MCKIM WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THIS STORY FOR GBH NEWS.

I THINK, JENNIFER, WE ARE SEEING THE LATEST OF THIS BEING A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION.

IT COMES TO MIND, BUT CERTAINLY THIS IS NOT A TOPIC THAT HAS GONE AWAY AT ANY POINT.

THERE HAS BEEN RALLYING SUPPORT BEHIND THIS BILL.

JENNIFER: EXACTLY.

THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT AS THESE TWO WOMEN KNOW TOO WELL, IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN MASSACHUSETTS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR DECADES AND TOO OFTEN IGNORED.

WE AT GBH HAVE DONE A LOT OF COVERAGE WITH OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES, PHILIP MARTIN.

WE HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT ILLICIT MASSAGE BUSINESSES, ABOUT YOUNG WOMEN WHO WERE TRAFFICKED INDUSTRIES OF BOSTON, ABOUT BOYS WHO WERE ALSO BEING BROUGHT IN AND EXPLOITED AND TRAFFICKED.

IT'’S A HUGE PROBLEM, ENDED FEDERAL CASE BRINGS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

CRYSTAL: AND AUDREY, I WILL ASK YOU, YOU HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR A LONG TIME IN THE GREATER BOSTON AREA.

WHEN YOU SEE CASES LIKE THIS RECENT FEDERAL INVESTIGATION, WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND?

AUDREY: WHY ARE THEY HOLDING THE BUYERS ACCOUNTABLE.

I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS OVER 20 YEARS, AND EVERY TIME THERE IS A STAYING TO THIS MAGNITUDE, YOU WILL SEE THE NAMES OF THE EXPLOITERS, OR YOU WILL SEE PICTURES OF THE WOMEN WHO WERE CAUGHT IN THE STING.

BUT WE NEVER SEE THE ACTUAL BUYERS.

SO, FOR ME, WHAT I DO KNOW TO BE TRUE IS, THAT IS THE GREATER PROBLEM.

BECAUSE IF PEOPLE DIDN'’T BUY PEOPLE, PEOPLE WOULDN'’T SOUND PEOPLE.

CRYSTAL: AUDRA, TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW DECRIMINALIZING WILL HELP THE VICTIMS IN THIS SITUATION, THE SEX WORKERS.

AUDRA: IT WOULD BE PARTIAL TO CRIMINALIZATION.

YOU'’RE STILL HOLDING THE BUYERS OF THE PIMPS AND THE BROTHEL OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE, SO IT IS NOT FULL DECRIMINALIZE A SHOW IN -- A JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP QUICKLY -- BUT HE WOULD GET THEM CONNECTED TO RESOURCES AND SERVICES WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'’T EVEN THINK THAT EXISTS.

SUPPORTERS -- SUPPORTED EXITING SERVICES IS MY LIFE MY CHOICE, SAFE EXIT INITIATIVE, LEADERS COMING TOGETHER AND CREATING SAFE PLACES.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS, SAFEHOUSES.

THAT IS EXITING SUPPORT SERVICES.

CRYSTAL: AND THIS WOULD HELP THE SEX WORKERS IN THIS SITUATION BY PARTIALLY DECRIMINALIZING IT, IT WOULD GIVE THEM ACCESS TO THOSE SERVICES?

AUDRA: YES, STOP CRIMINALIZING THEM AND MAKING THEM THE PROBLEM.

THEY ARE THE VICTIMS OF THIS CRIME AND THEY DON'’T NEED TO BE CRIMINALIZED FOR THESE ACTIONS.

CRYSTAL: JENNIFER, WHAT HAS BEEN SOME OF THE CRITICISM?

I THINK WHEN PEOPLE HEAR, WE ARE GOING TO DECRIMINALIZE SEX WORK, THEY THINK OF SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THEY DON'’T THINK IT'’S GOING TO GIVE ACCESS TO SERVICES.

JENNIFER: THERE ARE SOME MANY COMMENTED THAT WE HEAR -- IT'’S THE OLDEST PROFESSION IN THE WORLD.

PEOPLE SAY THAT.

WHICH THERE IS ARGUMENT THAT, WHY ARE PEOPLE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING THIS MUCH TIME GOING AFTER A BROTHEL BUST THAT LOOKS LIKE CONSENSUAL ADULTS WORKING TOGETHER?

THAT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES WE OFTEN HEAR FROM THE BACKGROUND WHEN THESE TYPES OF THINGS,.

CRYSTAL: YEAH, AUDREY, YOU MADE A REALLY GOOD OBSERVATION ABOUT WENDY'’S ROUNDS UP -- WHEN THESE ROUNDUPS HAPPEN, YOU SEE THE PICTURES OF THE WOMEN BEING CHARGED WITH THE CRIME.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE YOU JUST GET THE PRINT AT -- PRINTED LIST, AT LEAST FOR WE AS JOURNALISTS PERMIT WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE ENTER THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM IT THAT, IN THIS WAY, WHAT KIND OF EFFECT CAN IT HAVE ON THEIR LIVES?

AUDREY: OH MY GOD, HOUSING.

EMPLOYMENT.

WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS, AT MY LIFE MY CHOICE, WE WORK WITH YOUTH UNDER THE AGE OF 18, AND THE TERM "SEX WORKERS" IS TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILD.

BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ADULT WOMEN, LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, AND MESSAGES THAT HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK BUT STILL NEEDS TO DO A LOT OF WORK AROUND THE COREYS.

>> THE CRIMINAL HISTORIES OF PEOPLE.

AUDREY: CRIMINAL HISTORY.

PEOPLE CAN FIND JOBS.

HOUSING.

YOU WILL HEAR LIKE IF A PERSON CAN'’T GET THOSE THINGS, THEN YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR MORE OF THE STORIES AROUND, "I AM DOING THIS TO SURVIVE."

BUT I WILL SAY, THE ADULT WOMEN THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH, THEY ARE ALL FOR PARTIAL DECRIM.

THEY ARE NOT OPEN FOR A FULL DECRIM.

FULL DECRIM MEANS PIMPING WILL BE LEGAL, BROTHEL-AWNING MOVIE LEGAL, BUYING PEOPLE WILL BE LEGAL.

AND I DO WANT TO ADD THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS SIGNED ON TARBELL.

OUR BILL IS FOR ALL SURVIVORS AND THEIR SAFETY AND THEIR ABILITY, IF NEEDED, FOR THEM TO GAIN SERVICES.

I KNOW WHEN I WAS IN THE LIFE, THERE WAS A PROCESS FOR ME TO BASICALLY LEARN HOW TO LIVE AGAIN, RIGHT, AND WE WANT TO -- OUR BILL IS IN SUPPORT.

I DON'’T CARE IF YOU WERE RECRUITED INTO THE LIFE, WHETHER YOU ARE DOING IT BECAUSE YOU CHOOSE TO, WE WANT THE EQUAL RITES OF ALL SURVIVORS.

AND WITH OUR BILL, EXPUNGING RECORDS, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, SUPPORTING THEM IN THEIR JOURNEY.

BECAUSE WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT IF PEOPLE HAD GOOD JOBS, HOUSING, ACCESS TO EDUCATION, A LOT OF THEM WOULD NOT BE IN THE COMMERCIAL SEX INDUSTRY.

CRYSTAL: YOU WERE NODDING VEHEMENTLY.

HAS THAT BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE FOLKS YOU ARE WORKING WITH?

AUDRA: DEFINITELY.

AND THE SHAME AND STIGMA THAT GOES ALONG BEING IN A LIFE.

IF YOU FIND A COMMUNITY OF WOMEN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATIONS AS YOU AND THEY COME FROM THE LIFE, FOR ME, THAT WAS A HUGE PART OF THE HEALING PROCESS.

I DON'’T BELIEVE IT IS ANY LITTLE GIRLS DREAM TO BE PROSECUTED.

IT IS VULNERABILITIES.

IT IS THE CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE WITH THE FEWEST CHOICES, PEOPLE IN HOMELESSNESS, UNEMPLOYMENT, POVERTY.

ALL OF THOSE FACTORS ADD INTO PEOPLE ENTERING THE LIFE.

I AGREE 100%.

I THINK THAT SHAME AND STIGMA AND THE CRIMINALIZATION GO HAND-IN-HAND, AND WE NEED TO STOP BLAMING THEM AND TREATING THE VICTIMS AS CRIMINALS.

CRYSTAL: DO YOU THINK THE FACTORS, WHETHER IT BE IF HE WERE TRAFFICKED -- I KNOW THAT PART OF YOUR BACKSTORY IS THAT YOU WERE TRAFFICKED IN THE COMBAT ZONE AND THEN ENDED UP "IN THE LIFE" AS YOU SAY.

DO YOU THINK A BILL LIKE THIS WILL HELP GET TO SOME OF THOSE ISSUES?

AUDREY: YEAH.

WHAT THIS BILL WILL PUT UP FRONT, YOU WILL SEE A HIGH NUMBER OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE LIFE AND NOT BY CHOICE.

THAT IS WHY I FIGHT SO HARD FOR THIS BILL.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY CHOICE.

THEY ARE IN COLLEGE.

FOR THEM, WHEN THEY DECIDE THEY WANT TO GET OUT OF THE LIFE, THEY PROBABLY COULD.

BUT WHO WE SEE AT MY LIFE MY CHOICE AND EVEN IN MY ENCOUNTERS WITH OTHER SURVIVOR-LED ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN BOSTON THAT WORK WITH ADULT WOMEN, THE BLACK AND ARE SOLD AT A HIGHER RATE, AND THEY DON'’T HAVE A CHOICE.

AND THEY AREN'’T ONE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT, JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE IN OUR SOCIETY, BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE ARE SOLD FOR A LOWER RATE.

BLACK AND BROWN PERSON, THEIR VALUE TO A BUYER IS NOT THE SAME AS A WHITE WOMAN.

WHO WOULD BE IN THE LIFE.

SO I FEEL THAT THIS BILL WILL REALLY HELP BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN FROM BLACK AND BROWN ADULTS, FIND A SAFE WAY TO LIVE, GET THOSE RECORDS CLEARED, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, AND I WOULD GUARANTEE IF WE HAD PUT ALL THOSE THINGS FORTH, PEOPLE WOULD NOT DECIDE THAT THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN SURVIVE.

CRYSTAL: MHMM, WHEN TALKING TO LAWMAKERS AND OFFICIALS ABOUT THE AIM OF THIS BILL, IS THAT HELPING TO CHANGE SOME OF THAT, WHAT CAN BE A PIPELINE INTO THIS COMMERCIAL SEX INDUSTRY, AS AUDREY DESCRIBED IT?

JENNIFER: ABSOLUTELY.

WHATIS THE BILLS IN THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW, ONE THAT IS PUSHING FOR DO CRIMINALIZING THE SELLING OF SEX, AND ONE THAT WOULD FULLY DECRIMINALIZE SEXY BUYERS -- SEX BUYERS AND PIMPS LOOK AT.

IT WOULD INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF TRAFFICKING.

IF THEY THINK IT MAKES THEM MORE DANGEROUS WHEN THERE IS A CRIMINAL PART INVOLVED.

IT LOOKS TO ME RIGHT NOW ANYWAY, IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION, THAT THERE IS A LOT MORE SUPPORT IN THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE I THINK IT IS PROBABLY A LOT MORE MANAGEABLE FOR MOST PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO MOVE AT THAT LEVEL.

THERE WAS A SIMILAR BILL PASSED IN MAINE RECENTLY, DECRIMINALIZE IN THE SELLERS OF SEX.

THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON.

MASSACHUSETTS, WHAT I HAVE HEARD IS THAT IT IS IN THE FOREFRONT OF THIS DISCUSSION IN THE COUNTRY.

MAINE, HAS PASSED A LAW, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW YORK ALSO LOOKING AT IT.

SO WE WILL SEE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS WHAT HAPPENS.

CRYSTAL: AUDRA, THINKING ABOUT SOCIAL AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE THERE IS ALMOST A GLIMMERING STATION -- GLAMOUR EDITION OF SEX WORK.

I WONDER IF THAT HURTS THE WORK OF YOU AND AUDREY AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING TO HELP WOMEN WHO ARE TRYING TO LEAVE THIS LIFE AND REBUILD THEIR LIVES.

AUDREY: OF COURSE.

IT HURTS OVER WOMEN.

THEY GLAMORIZE IT.

ESPECIALLY ONLY FANS AND TIKTOK, GIRLS ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA TALKING ABOUT MUCH MONEY THEY GOT, WHAT'’S IN MY BAG.

TO A YOUNGER LIKE MYSELF GROWING, UP I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT WAS GLAMOROUS.

I WANTED ISSUES.

I GREW UP IN POVERTY AND I WANTED NICE THINGS, SO IF THAT WAS WHAT I WANTED TO DO TO GET THEM, I WOULD THINK, THAT'’S NOT BAD.

I AM BEHIND THE CAMERA.

I'’M SAFE.

GUESS WHAT.

IT'’S NOT SAFE BEHIND THE CAMERA ELECT.

AND ONCE THOSE IMAGES ARE OUT THERE, THEY'’RE OUT THERE FOREVER.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND OF THE GROWTH OF THAT ALSO.

CRYSTAL: AUDREY, I AM SURE YOU SEE IT AND YOU ARE, LIKE, THIS WILL WORK AGAINST ME IN THE WORK THAT YOU'’RE DOING?

AUDREY: WELL, AT MY LIFE MY CHOICE, WE WORK WITH KIDS.

SO I DON'’T THINK, AND MY HOPE IS THAT YOUR VIEWERS, WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE LIFE BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED OR BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR CHOICE, THAT YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS NO INDUSTRY FOR CHILDREN.

WHAT I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT, ANYWHERE THAT THERE IS AN ADULT SEX INDUSTRY, THERE ARE ALWAYS CHILDREN.

THERE IS NO WAY TO EVEN HAVE THIS INDUSTRY WITHOUT YOUNG PEOPLE BEING INVOLVED.

AND, THE GLAMOUR OF -- YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE RAPPERS WHO USED TO BE STRIPPERS AND NOW THEY ARE MULTIMILLIONAIRES.

BUT THAT'’S NOT THE REALITY.

AND AGAIN, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT MY LIFE MY CHOICE SERVES.

AND, AUDRA, IF I ASK YOU, I AM SURE THESE ARE NOT THE WOMEN YOU SERVE.

CRYSTAL: WELL, WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THIS BILL AND THE PROGRESS IN ALL THE REPORTING YOU ARE DOING AS WELL.

AUDRA DOODY, AUDREY MORRISSEY, JENIFER MCKIM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THAT IT FOR TONIGHT.

BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

I AM CRYSTAL HAYNES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FROM WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪