Social and Structural Factors Shaping High Rates of Incarceration among Sex Workers in a Canadian Setting

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Criminology
• Sociology

Background:

• Enforcement-based approaches to sex work negatively impact health, safety, and well-being.
• Understanding the prevalence and correlates of incarceration is crucial for vulnerable populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and correlates of recent incarceration among women sex workers in Vancouver, Canada.
• To analyze the association between social and structural factors and the likelihood of incarceration.

Main Methods:

• Prospective community cohort study (An Evaluation of Sex Workers' Health Access - AESHA) from January 2010 to August 2013.
• Data from 720 female and transgender sex workers.
• Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses using generalized estimating equations (GEE).

Main Results:

• 23.9% of participants were incarcerated at least once during the study period; 36.6% of those had multiple episodes.
• Independent correlates of incarceration included younger age, sexual/gender minority status, heavy drinking, being born in Canada, unstable housing, servicing clients in public spaces, and experiencing police harassment without arrest.
• Younger age (AOR=1.04), sexual/gender minority status (AOR=1.62), heavy drinking (AOR=1.99), born in Canada (AOR=3.28), unstable housing (AOR=4.32), public space sex work (AOR=2.33), and police harassment (AOR=1.82) were significant factors.

Conclusions:

• A very high prevalence and frequency of incarceration exist among sex workers in Vancouver.
• The most vulnerable and marginalized women face increased risk of incarceration.
• Findings support calls to shift from criminalized and enforcement-based approaches to sex work globally.