amalimad.: Sp cq environment
1. Does street prostitution take place in more than one area?
According to Detective Allen street prostitution mainly takes place on the lower blocks of Scott Avenue. However, there are times in which the prostitutes attempt to relocate to the other neighborhoods or the upper blocks of Scott Avenue in the cases that arrests of prostitutes have increased or they are unable to find sufficient clients. It is important to note that according to Detective Allen, "the other neighborhoods won't tolerate that behavior."
2. What conditions make the area(s) attractive for street prostitution?
Low lighting, no police presence, minimal foot and automobile traffic, a motel that does not enforce prohibitions against prostitution on their premises, and a tried and tested area (such as a certain block) in which prostitutes can conduct their business with the knowledge that no one (namely law enforcement) will interfere with their actions.
3. If street prostitution occurs in several areas, how are they similar and different?
Street prostitution, in this case, is often confined to the lower blocks of Scott Avenue. However, prostitutes do move into other areas due to factors such as increased arrests, a dependency on drugs (which propels them to find areas with an active drug market), etc. The similarities in these cases is that street prostitution no matter where it goes includes other crimes such as theft, physical assault, and drug sale/use. The difference is in the longevity of street prostitution. For example, in the more known areas street prostitution tends to remain stable over time. This is evidenced by the interview of one officer who discussed how his fellow officers have arrested some prostitutes dozens of times only for them to continue committing the same crime. In other areas, prostitution is short-lived as other neighborhoods put a firm stop to it.
4. What area businesses are harmed by the presence of street prostitution?
Area businesses that are harmed by the presence of street prostitution include restaurants, community centers, and other businesses who consumers desire a safe, crime-free, family-friendly environment. The opinion piece highlights this as the author stated that will no longer go to a certain restaurant because there were prostitutes in the parking lot and in the actual restaurant.
5. What area businesses support and/or benefit from street prostitution?
One area business that supports and benefits from street prostitution is a local motel which acknowledges and allows prostitutes to bring their clients into a designated room throughout the night. This allows great financial profits for the motel as they are able to continuously rent the room throughout the night thus increasing their earnings
6. Is the street prostitution market in each area old or new? Has it changed in size recently? If so, why?
The street prostitution market in some areas are older while in some areas they are newer. The street prostitution in newer areas tends to be more short-lived an serves as a temporary replacement until the prostitutes and "Johns" can go back to the original location. It is difficult to say if it has changed in size recently based on the information I have compiled. In a police report there was note of the usage of crack cocaine among prostitutes and how this can make street prostitution activity more unpredictable.
7. Do street prostitution areas have a reputation as being dangerous or safe for clients?
Street prostitution always holds some level of danger for clients and many of them are aware of that. These risks include, but are not limited to, the risk of arrest, contracting a disease, having their crime being made public, etc. This is highlighted by an interview with one "John" who discussed that his concerns were about getting a disease an being arrested, and he was arrested when he tried to solicit an undercover officer. He noted that he often visited "regulars" or prostitutes he was familiar with as a means of preventing arrest and other issues.
8. Are street prostitution areas isolated, or busy with other activities?
Street prostitution areas are a mix of both. They tend to have some form of activity (e.g. a restaurant with patrons, a motel nearby, etc), but are not necessarily bustling with activity. This balance provides prostitutes with customers without detection by the police and provides the "Johns" with access to the prostitutes with a lower risk of arrest.
9. What other types of crime occur in the area? How much is related to street prostitution?
Other types of crime that occur in the area include drug use, the sale of drugs, violent acts, and theft.
10. If street prostitution were forced out of a target area, where would you predict it might reappear?
The street prostitution would most likely reappear in a nearby area. Somwhere perhaps a few blocks in a certain direction of the target area or a nearby neighborhood. This hypothesis is based on interviews with officers who discussed how prostitutes relocate a few blocks away or in nearby neighborhoods when prostitutes began being arrested in large numbers (or when clientele were few).