Sex Worker Victimization, Modes of Working, and Location in New South Wales, Australia: A Geography of Victimization

This article examines the association among victimization, modes of sex working, and the locations used by sex workers through an analysis of ‘‘Ugly Mug’’ reports detailing 528 crimeacts in 333 reported incidents in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. These forms, volun-tarily lodged between 2000 and 2008 by members of NSW’s estimated 10,000 sex worker population, suggest that street-based work has a higher victimization rate than other modesof working, including escort work, work in commercial premises, and private work. Although this ostensibly supports the commonly held view that ‘‘outdoor’’ working is more dangerousthan ‘‘indoor’’ work, this analysis suggests that most instances of victimization actually occurin private spaces. Hence, it is argued that risks of victimization in sex work are in?uenced bya variety of environmental characteristics relating to concealment, control, and isolation,suggesting that not all off-street locations are equally safe. The article accordingly concludes with recommendations for prostitution policy.