kquevedo: Sp cq current response

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

Typical arrests but the results are showing no change/effectiveness

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

process cases and attempt to punish

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

There were no exact details

4. Do the prostitutes and clients complete those sentences?

Yes

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

No long term effectiveness

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

undercover investigations

7. Are any of these responses especially effective?

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

EMS, Social service workers

9. Are prostitutes using available services?

kquevedo: Sp cq clients johns

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

Most are men
No certain outstanding race for clients
Martial status: Both married and single

2. How committed are clients to prostitution?

Not very committed

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

The people that visit the businesses and witness prostitution on the streets.

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

Not very committed

kdelacru: Sp cq drugs

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

Prostitutes are known to use drugs or know where to easily access them. Clients will sometimes involve prostitutes when they are looking to purchase drugs.

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

Yes, their clients sometimes overlap.

3. Do street prostitutes exchange sex directly for drugs?

Yes, prostitutes have been known to exchange sex for drugs from their clients as payment.

kdelacru: Sp cq current response

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

Currently, the police department's approach is patrolling areas known for prostitution and making arrests of both the prostitutes and their clients.

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

The current policy for prostitution-related offenses is to make an arrest.

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

Offenders are typically released by the next day.

4. Do the prostitutes and clients complete those sentences?

They do complete their sentences, but they are not held for very long.

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

The short sentences they recieve typically do not deter clients or prostitutes and they continue to engage in criminal activity.

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

Prostitutes sometimes go to social services or enter a drug treatment program.

7. Are any of these responses especially effective?

These responses are typically not effective, and prostitues usually return back to working like before.

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

Drug treatment services are offered to prostitutes struggling with substance abuse. There is also job training and house visits available.

9. Are prostitutes using available services?

They are using these services, but only long enough to recover and soon after, they return to prostitution

kdelacru: Sp cq clients johns

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

They are typically middle aged men. Sometimes they are high status such as public officials or law enforcement officer.

2. How committed are clients to prostitution?

They are committed in that they typically avoid soliciting women they do not recognize so that they do not get arrested. They find ways to work around barriers, such as avoiding police.

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

The groups concerned are mostly those who have been arrested before. They make adjustments such as solicitiing in a different location or only soliciting from women they recognize.

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

Clients are not committed to remaining in a particular location. They will move locations or avoid certain ones if they believe they may be caught.

Grobbin5: 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 are varying forms of street prostitution present, including both female, male, and non-cisgender markets. This area sees a majority female prostitutes based on client demographics and locations.

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

They are all young adults, some underage, who fall onto the streets at a young age. They are majority females. Racial groups vary, but often reflect marginalized groups. They often have prior arrests and repeated contact with the system. Are very likely to have been in or gone through the social service system. There is a very high prevalence of substance abuse and drug dependency among prostitutes.

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

Most prostitutes do not commit crime against clients due to high potential for risk. If they do, it is often minor instances of fraud or theft.

4. Are street prostitutes the victims of crime?

Yes, prostitutes are very frequently the victims of various crimes, including physical and sexual assault, robbery, and exploitation. This is due to working conditions, reluctance to report, risk exposure, and substance abuse.

5. How committed are prostitutes to prostitution?

There is a high level of commitment to prostitution due to drug addictions, economic necessity, and struggle to exit. They often go back onto the streets because they feel like they have no other choice.

6. How committed are they to a particular location?

They tend to shift locations based on police activity and clientele. However, they will often stroll the same areas or hotspots because of familiarity and established networks.

Grobbin5: Sp cq sexual transactions

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

They often loiter in high traffic areas were they can approach or be approached by clients slowly. They usually use coded messages and signals through a car window or in a low visibility area. They usually discuss pay rates, service, and location. Once agreed upon, they will move to another location where the payment is taken and service is done.

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

The most common way clients solicit prostitutes is through vehicles, by driving slow through high traffic areas where they stop briefly. Some clients will go into local shops, motels, or bars where prostitutes frequent.

3. Where do the sexual transactions take place?

They usually occur in nearby, private locations such as pay by hour motels, side streets, abandoned buildings, or in the clients car.

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

There is no consistency in the use of condoms or other preventative measures. Street prostitutes are not likely to consistently use protection, leading to higher rates of sexually-transmitted diseases.

Grobbin5: Sp cq police community members

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

Majority of the police see prostitution as a public order issue, focusing more on the drug markets and community complaints associated with it.

2. How concerned is the community?

The community raises a high concern about street prostitution, raising concerns of fear and dissatisfaction at the presence of sex workers and lack of police response.

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

Residents are concerned about issues of safety, exposure to children to sexual activity, and loitering. Businesses are concerned about loss of customers, damage to reputation, and economic damage. Social workers and community organizations are concerned about public health issues, exploitation, violence, and neighborhood deterioration. Law enforcement are concerned about crime clustering and pressure from the public and political agencies.

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

Many neighborhood watch groups are told to report incidents and pressure officials. However, with the lack of response from law enforcement, many do not report prostitution as a major issue.

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

They often tolerate prostituion in areas where crime is very prevelant and common as they see it as inevitable and less urgent (300-200 blocks). However, in areas where less crime in present, most residents do not tolerate, and fight for complete removal.

Grobbin5: Sp cq pimps

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

Some of the prostitutes are controlled by pimps who take a share of their income in return for protection, transportation, and clients. However, many of them are also independent who keep their earnings and find their own clients. In this particular area, we see more independent workers.

Grobbin5: Sp cq environment

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

Yes, while is relatively focused in the 300-200 blocks of Scott avenue, it occurs in hotspots in both the north and south sides of Scott avenue and in surrounding neighborhoods.

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

High traffic areas where both prostitutes and clients can remain anonymous. Areas with low law enforcement presences and with poor lighting and neglect. Areas in close proximity to drug markets are also very attractive.

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

They all have easy access points (close to major roads or traffic routes) and presence of other criminal activities (drug/substance use). However, they vary in clientele, organization (pimps or not), timing (day or night), and pricing.

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

local bars, restaurants, hotels, and retail stores are all affected by this. Residants stated that they no longer felt safe or comfortable going to local shopping malls or restaurants due to prostitution. Businesses owners shows a rapid decrease in economic intake due to presence.

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

Local bars or liquor stores see benefit do higher rates of purchases and a rise in clients looking for girls to hire. Motels will also see a benefit from prostitution from clients and workers renting rooms by the hours.

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

Most of the areas are well known and stable, but relatively new. This is due to various police crackdowns and development in other areas. The size of these markets has significantly grown in the recent year according to recent statistics on sightings.

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

Some areas are know for being safe for clients, while others are known for violence, police presences, and robberies.

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

In the Scott Avenue area, there a both isolated and busy. Some areas are located in low traffic, abandoned streets. Some are located in high-traffic districts, specifically areas that allow enough traffic for steady clientele and anonymity, but low visibility.

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

In this area, there are high rates of drug dealing and possessions, assaults, and theft. Many prostitutes are directly involved in the usage and distribution of drugs. They are also often the victims of violence due to exploitation and disputes.

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

If prostitution is pushed out of the hotspot areas (Scott avenue 300-200 blocks), they are likely to move to nearby street with similar conditions (lack of law enforcement and easily accessible low visibility areas). I predict it is likely to shift to the northern blocks of Scott Avenue.

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