"...decriminalization led to a 40 percent decrease in female gonorrhea incidence and a 30 percent decrease in reported rape offenses."
...
From 1999 to 2003, the rate of reported rape offenses in Rhode Island was about the same as it was in the rest of the country. However, during the period when indoor prostitution was legal, the rate of reported rape offenses fell below both historical rates in Rhode Island and the average rates in the U.S. The authors found no evidence of changes in police employment, data collected, or data definitions during this time period that would impact these findings. Therefore, they attribute this reduction in sexual violence to improvement in the bargaining power of sex workers to report incidences of rape against them and demand safer work environments since they are no longer at risk for legal ramifications."
http://chicagopolicyreview.org/2018/02/26/the-effect-of-decriminalizing-prostitution-on-public-health-and-safety/
...
From 1999 to 2003, the rate of reported rape offenses in Rhode Island was about the same as it was in the rest of the country. However, during the period when indoor prostitution was legal, the rate of reported rape offenses fell below both historical rates in Rhode Island and the average rates in the U.S. The authors found no evidence of changes in police employment, data collected, or data definitions during this time period that would impact these findings. Therefore, they attribute this reduction in sexual violence to improvement in the bargaining power of sex workers to report incidences of rape against them and demand safer work environments since they are no longer at risk for legal ramifications."
http://chicagopolicyreview.org/2018/02/26/the-effect-of-decriminalizing-prostitution-on-public-health-and-safety/