The growth in the sex market post-decriminalization suggests that lower-risk workers are entering the market. Furthermore, indoor sex workers appear to have lower disease rates than outdoor sex workers. Empirical evidence also suggests that risky behaviors, i.e., performing sexual acts without using a condom or other method of protection against disease, fell after decriminalization. These changes in the market structure and composition post-decriminalization could help explain why the rates of STIs fell.

Market Changes and the Fall in STIs

- Resource Reallocation (Police and Prosecutor)
- Police abuses Could be Minizized
- Abuse of Sex workers Should Decrease

Possible Policy Benefits from the Decriminalization of Sex Work

Decriminalizing indoor prostitution decreased gonorrhea incidence by 47% from 2004-2009. In the rest of the U.S., the rate of gonorrhea incidence was 113.4 per 100,000 females from 1999-2003, and then 108.4 from 2004-2009. In Rhode Island, gonorrhea incidence was 81.4 per 100,000 females from 1999-2003 but then fell dramatically to only 43.1 per 100,000 females from 2004-2009.

University of Oklahoma

The effects of decriminalization on STIs is ambiguous. Decriminalization will likely increase the size of the market for sex work, which could increase the spread of STIs (more sex work –> more STIs being spread). However, with sex work being legal, "lower risk" women may enter the market. That is, women who are more sexually responsible and less likely to be carriers or transmitters of STIs may enter the market. This leaves the net effects ambiguous. 

The Theoretical Effects of Decriminalizing Prostitution on STIs

Cunningham, Scott and Shah, Manisha. Decriminalizing Indoor Prostitution: Implications for Sexual Violence and Public Health, The Review of Economic Studies, Volume 85, Issue 3, July 2018, Pages 1683–1715, https://doi.org/10.1093/restud/rdx065

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