SACRAMENTO -- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law Sunday that would help young prostitutes. The legislation decriminalizes the actions of minors involved in the sex trade. Instead of punishing them, they would be treated as victims.

Currently, if a minor is picked up for prostitution, she is charged as a criminal and sent to juvenile. But this law would change that and connect young girls with counselors and services they need. The law would also help girls who want to bring charges against a pimp.

“They want to stay with their pimps because they think that's safety, that's protection but usually the pimps are raping them, stealing their money, and that's why it's good to have a law that protect these women under the age of 18 from this situation,” said Oakland Police Officer Jeff Thomason.

Oakland Police say they already treat prostitutes as victims and have an advocate on hand to talk to women. During sweeps, their main focus is going after the pimps. In an operation earlier this month, authorities arrested 12 people in connection with child prostitution charges.

Under the new law, a pilot program would be created in Alameda County that would train law enforcement how to properly treat sexually exploited minors as victims rather than criminals.

In related news, the decriminalization of prostitution in San Francisco will be the hands of the voters in November.

Measure 'K' on the ballot would allow prostitutes to report crimes like assault or rape without fear of prosecution.

It also calls for the full enforcement of laws against assault or rape in cases involving sex workers.

Backers of the measure say it seeks to prevent sex workers from a "life-long economic discrimination associated with having a criminal record."