lnation: Sp cq police community members

1. How concerned is the police department about street prostitution?

Very but in a way to get them off the streets

2. How concerned is the community?

Equally as concerned as police

3. What groups are particularly concerned and why? What specific concerns are expressed?

Most concerns relate to intimidating prostitutes, informing property owners, and restricting their access to streets

4. How organized and active are community members who oppose street prostitution?

Not very

5. What level of street prostitution are they willing to tolerate?

Out of sight

lnation: Sp cq street prostitutes

1. Does street prostitution take only one form (e.g., female prostitutes and male clients), or are there several different forms (e.g., homosexual or transvestite prostitution)?

There seems to be only one form of street prostitution

2. What is known about the prostitutes (e.g., age, gender, race, criminal history, social service history, substance abuse history, residence)?

Some are convicted others are in it for the money

3. Do street prostitutes commit crimes against clients (e.g., robbery or theft)?

4. Are street prostitutes the victims of crime?

In certain cases, yes

5. How committed are prostitutes to prostitution?

Mostly committed

6. How committed are they to a particular location?

Very, unless the area is bad

Hassan Alshakhuri: Sp cq sexual transactions

1. How, specifically, do street prostitutes and clients negotiate and complete sexual transactions?

They make contact on the street, usually by eye contact or short conversation. They discuss price and services quickly, then move to a car or hidden spot to complete the act.

2. Do clients solicit prostitutes on foot or from a vehicle?

Most clients approach by car and slow down to talk through the window. Some approach on foot, but cars are more common for quick negotiation.

3. Where do the sexual transactions take place?

Most acts take place inside clients' cars. Sometimes alleys or nearby motels are used, but cars are the primary location.

4. Do prostitutes and clients take precautions to prevent sexually-transmitted disease?

Some use condoms but not consistently. Drug addiction, quick deals, and low trust make safe practices unreliable.

Hassan Alshakhuri: Sp cq police community members

1. How concerned is the police department about street prostitution?

They know the problem continues and want better results.

2. How concerned is the community?

Some feel unsafe, and others are tired of seeing prostitution around their neighborhoods

3. What groups are particularly concerned and why? What specific concerns are expressed?

Business owners worry about losing customers, residents worry about safety and drugs, and police worry that arrests don’t fix the problem long term.

4. How organized and active are community members who oppose street prostitution?

not everyone is involved, so the response is medium-level.

5. What level of street prostitution are they willing to tolerate?

They don’t want it near homes and businesses, or where families pass.

Hassan Alshakhuri: Sp cq pimps

1. Do the prostitutes work for pimps or others who profit from their income?

Targeting pimps directly could reduce control over women and weaken the market.

Hassan Alshakhuri: Sp cq environment

1. Does street prostitution take place in more than one area?

Yes, it happens in more than one place.

2. What conditions make the area(s) attractive for street prostitution?

The areas have bars, clubs, and places where many people pass by.

3. If street prostitution occurs in several areas, how are they similar and different?

Similar areas are busy, have nightlife, and places where cars stop easily.

4. What area businesses are harmed by the presence of street prostitution?

Family restaurants, shops, and small stores nearby may lose customers because people feel unsafe.

5. What area businesses support and/or benefit from street prostitution?

Bars, motels, nightclubs, and maybe liquor stores benefit because clients and prostitutes use them.

6. Is the street prostitution market in each area old or new? Has it changed in size recently? If so, why?

It’s not new. It has been happening for years but recently increased, especially along Scott Avenue.

7. Do street prostitution areas have a reputation as being dangerous or safe for clients?

Some spots are seen as dangerous because of drug activity, robbery, and harassment.

8. Are street prostitution areas isolated, or busy with other activities?

Mostly busy areas with bars and traffic, not isolated.

9. What other types of crime occur in the area? How much is related to street prostitution?

Drug selling, indecent exposure, harassment and sometimes assault.

10. If street prostitution were forced out of a target area, where would you predict it might reappear?

Probably to another nearby street with nightlife and less police pressure, or online/indoor

Hassan Alshakhuri: Sp cq drugs

1. To what extent are street prostitutes, clients and pimps engaged in the sale or use of drugs?

Drug use is strongly connected to street prostitution. Many prostitutes rely on drugs like cocaine, and this increases their activity on the street. Some clients are also drug users, which keeps the market active. When drug use goes up, prostitution increases too, so both problems support each other. A solution may require drug treatment programs along with policing, not arrest alone.

2. Are street prostitution and street drug markets near each other?

Yes. Drug activity and prostitution often happen in the same places, especially around Scott Avenue.

3. Do street prostitutes exchange sex directly for drugs?

Sometimes, especially for women who are addicted.

Hassan Alshakhuri: Sp cq current response

1. What is the police department's current policy in dealing with street prostitution?

The police department relies mainly on arresting prostitutes and clients when they are caught soliciting. Officers patrol the area, respond to complaints, and make arrests when possible.

2. What is the prosecutor's current policy regarding prostitution-related offenses?

Prosecutors typically handle cases through fines or short-term jail sentences, which are quickly completed. There is no strong emphasis on rehabilitation, drug treatment, or long-term monitoring.

3. What are the typical sentences handed out to those who are convicted?

Most convicted individuals receive a small fine, a short jail stay, or sometimes probation.

4. Do the prostitutes and clients complete those sentences?

Yes, most offenders complete their sentences, but they quickly return to the same activity once released.

5. What effect, if any, does the imposition of a sentence have on subsequent involvement in prostitution?

Sentencing has little long-term effect. Since jail time is short and fines are not high, neither prostitutes nor clients feel strong deterrence.

6. What responses do police officers use, other than arrest and prosecution?

Sometimes police issue warnings, remove people temporarily, or increase patrols. They may also try restraining orders, traffic controls, or spotlight patrols in dark areas.

7. Are any of these responses especially effective?

Some actions help temporarily, such as restraining orders on repeat offenders or car license suspension for clients. Increased patrol visibility and lighting also reduce activity at certain hours. But overall, these responses do not solve the root problems

8. What social, health and substance abuse treatment services are available to assist prostitutes?

A few social service programs can provide counseling, shelter, drug treatment, STD testing, and job support. However, access is limited and many women are unaware of these services.

9. Are prostitutes using available services?

Some do, but not enough. Many avoid programs because they fear arrest, lack transportation, or prefer quick income from prostitution. Others are controlled by drug addiction or pimps.

Hassan Alshakhuri: Sp cq clients johns

1. What is known about the clients (e.g., age, race, occupation, socio-economic status, marital status, criminal history, residence)?

Many clients appear to be ordinary men rather than organized offenders. They are from mixed economic backgrounds some lower-income labor workers and others seem financially stable. A portion of them drive personal vehicles, meaning they are comfortable entering the area regularly. A few seem familiar with prostitutes by name or routine, suggesting an ongoing pattern rather than a one-time act.

2. How committed are clients to prostitution?

Clients show varying levels of commitment. Some approach quickly, make deals, and leave showing low emotional involvement. Others spend time cruising multiple times in the same night, which indicates stronger interest or dependency. Their repeated presence even when police patrols increase suggests they are not easily discouraged.

3. What groups are particularly concerned and why? What specific concerns are expressed?

Community watch groups are especially vocal because they feel prostitution lowers neighborhood safety and property value. Parents express concern about school-age children witnessing sexual activity or encounters on the street. Religious and civic organizations also oppose prostitution for moral reasons, and many want cleaner public spaces and reduced criminal behavior.

4. How committed are they to soliciting prostitutes on the street or in a particular area?

Despite risks, many clients still prefer street solicitation because it is cheap, fast, and requires no long-term arrangement. They continue returning to the same blocks even after arrests, which shows a strong preference for the street system. Some may switch to different hours to avoid police, proving they adapt rather than stop entirely.

Hassan Alshakhuri: Sp cq street prostitutes

1. Does street prostitution take only one form (e.g., female prostitutes and male clients), or are there several different forms (e.g., homosexual or transvestite prostitution)?

Street prostitution does not take just one form. While the most visible pattern is female prostitutes with male clients, there are also cases involving male prostitutes serving other men, and some transvestite or transgender individuals work in the same areas. Each group attracts a different type of client and may operate at different hours or locations, making the street prostitution problem more diverse than it appears.

2. What is known about the prostitutes (e.g., age, gender, race, criminal history, social service history, substance abuse history, residence)?

The prostitutes vary widely in background. Most are adult females, though some are younger and more vulnerable. Many show signs of drug addiction or past criminal charges, and several appear to lack stable housing. A few have prior contact with social services, suggesting long-term social and financial struggles. Their appearance and behavior suggest a lifestyle influenced heavily by substance abuse and limited employment opportunities.

3. Do street prostitutes commit crimes against clients (e.g., robbery or theft)?

Incidents of robbery or theft do occur, though not in every transaction. Some prostitutes may take money and flee, especially when dealing with intoxicated or inexperienced clients. In other cases, conflict over payment can escalate into theft or assault. These crimes are typically opportunistic rather than planned, but they create fear and tension among clients and increase calls to police.

4. Are street prostitutes the victims of crime?

Yes. Street prostitutes frequently experience violence, exploitation, and harassment. They may be assaulted by clients, robbed by strangers, or controlled by pimps who use intimidation or drugs to maintain power. They also face verbal abuse from residents and occasional mistreatment from law enforcement. Their vulnerability makes them easy targets, especially late at night or in isolated locations.

5. How committed are prostitutes to prostitution?

Commitment levels vary. Some see prostitution as temporary income and leave when safer options appear. Others are deeply tied to the trade due to addiction, financial dependency, or influence from pimps. Those with long histories in prostitution tend to return even after arrests or short jail sentences, showing long-term dependence rather than voluntary participation

6. How committed are they to a particular location?

Many prostitutes rely on familiar locations where they know clients will come. They choose areas with low lighting, heavy traffic, or limited police presence. Even after enforcement sweeps, they often return to the same street because it is profitable and predictable. However, if enforcement becomes aggressive, they sometimes shift to side streets or nearby motels rather than leaving the business completely.

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