Before, I would say legalize it, but I remember a while back an article on Suicide Girls (yeah, I know, but there are some good articles in it too) about a recent study on Nevada brothels. If I remember correctly, it says that it actually restricts the women more, since it's legal, they can't quit the job or even leave the premises. Basically, legalizing it has turned the prostitutes in the state from people that, while criminalized, had the opportunity to make something better of themselves, to essentially legal slaves to those who run the brothel.
Before I thought legalizing it would help the women who do it, now I'm not so sure anymore.