Barbara G. Brents In The News

City Cast Las Vegas
Nevada is the only state with legal prostitution — but only in certain counties. So why doesn’t Clark County, home to Sin City, have legal brothels? With prostitution arrests in the news again, we’re bringing back a conversation co-host Dayvid Figler had with UNLV sociology professor Barb Brents. They talk about why Clark County has held out against both decriminalizing prostitution and legalizing brothels, and what it would take to change those policies.
Casino.org
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) reported about a 50% jump in prostitution offenses in May, according to Las Vegas TV station KTNV. When comparing prostitution offenses between January 1 and May 31, 2023, vs. January 1 and May 31, 2024, for the Las Vegas Valley, the numbers were 675 in 2023 and 1,007 in 2024. That represents a 49.2% jump.
Morehead State Public Radio: WMKY 90.3
March is Women’s History Month, and several events are being held to commemorate the topic. Dr. Bernadette Barton is a professor of Sociology and Gender Studies at MSU. She said patriarchy works to minimize women’s contributions to the social world by erasing that history.
Tagesspiegel
The EU Parliament is calling on states to punish sex buyers instead of sex workers in the future. But there are different opinions as to whether this is the right path.
City Cast Las Vegas
For over 50 years, Nevada has been the only U.S. state with legalized prostitution — but it’s only allowed in brothels, and even then, only in a few rural counties. A small grassroots effort is underway this summer to expand legal brothels to Douglas and Churchill Counties — but why not Clark County? How did Sin City opt out of this particular “sin”? Today, co-host Dayvid Figler chats with UNLV sociology professor Barb Brents, a leading expert on sexual commerce, about how we got here, and if (and how) Clark County could get brothels, too.
The Nevada Independent
Sex work and the laws around it can be complex, nuanced and prone to misconceptions — including in Nevada, the only state in the union where prostitution is legal, but only in certain circumstances. Lawmakers, advocates and researchers are often at odds over the best ways to prevent sex trafficking and sexual violence.
Desert Companion
A feisty couple banks on the colorful history of a Beatty-area brothel drawing visitors to what’s now a regular old bed-and-breakfast
Las Vegas Sun
Transgender adult model Sabina Steele lost her job at Starbucks in July 2020 and had to act quickly to overcome the income loss.