abeam19: Sp cq police community members

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

The department is concerned but feels defeated by budget cuts and a lack of resources to handle the increasing workload.

2. How concerned is the community?

Extremely concerned, rating the problem an 8.3 out of 10.

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

Merchants (loss of business), neighborhood groups (safety and drug sales), and church leaders (vulnerability of the women and their children).

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

Very organized; they attend police commander meetings regularly and have pressured the mayor to hire outside consultants.

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

Residents indicate they might "overlook" the prostitution if the drug sales and "strangers" in the neighborhood were removed, but they prefer both to stop.

abeam19: Sp cq environment

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

Yes, it occurs in the "lower blocks" of Scott Avenue (200-800 blocks), the "upper portion" of Scott Avenue, and another "notorious" area on the other side of the city.

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

Decaying infrastructure, the presence of bars and liquor stores, hotels that rent by the hour, and "shadows between buildings" that allow prostitutes to hide from the general public while remaining visible to slow-moving cars.

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

The "lower blocks" are decaying and linked to heavy drug use, while the "upper portion" is more successful with newer clubs. Prostitutes move between these areas depending on police crackdowns or their need for "better money" versus "quick drug money."

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

General merchants, shops, and restaurants are harmed. They lose customers who are afraid of the "seedy" environment, and landlords find it nearly impossible to lease vacant storefronts.

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

Specific bars (Lucky’s, Lazy Lounge, Team Sports) and hotels (Blossom, Secrete) benefit by providing the space for solicitation or the sexual acts themselves.

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

The market moved to Scott Avenue about 30 years ago. Recently, it has intensified, with narcotic arrests up 26% and female arrests up 40% in the lower blocks.

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

The lower blocks are considered dangerous; there are reports of college students being robbed and assaulted, and a recent homicide of a prostitute has increased public alarm.

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

They are busy with residents and restaurant-goers in the early evening, but the prostitution activity peaks after 11 pm when the "seedy people" come out.

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

Drug sales, robbery, assault, and a high volume of "lost article" reports (theft of wallets) are common.

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

It would likely move back to the "notorious" area on the other side of town or further into the "upper end" of Scott Avenue where the money is better.

abeam19: Sp cq drugs

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

Engagement is near-total. Most street prostitutes are heroin addicts. Clients frequently "drive into the city just to buy drugs" and use the prostitutes to find dealers.

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

Yes, they are geographically intertwined in the lower blocks of Scott Avenue.

3. Do street prostitutes exchange sex directly for drugs?

Yes. Many "turn tricks for dope," and some clients buy drugs specifically to trade them for sexual favors.

abeam19: Sp cq pimps

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

Most street prostitutes in this area do not have traditional pimps. However, some work directly for "dope men" to pay off drug debts, and some local bars (like the Team Sports bar) may receive cash or help facilitate the transactions.

abeam19: Sp cq current response

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

The department is currently in a "triage" mode. Due to budget cuts and a lack of manpower, they cannot afford the long-term undercover operations required to build strong cases. Their current policy is one of containment, simply moving prostitutes along to keep the problem out of the immediate sight of the "alarmed" public.

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

Prosecutors frequently drop or reduce charges even when the police build a strong case. This lack of prosecution discourages officers from making arrests in the first place.

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

The text doesn't specify exact sentences, but community leaders note that arrested prostitutes are typically back on the street within a "few hours," suggesting that any "sentence" or holding period is extremely brief.

4. Do the prostitutes and clients complete those sentences?

The reports imply a "revolving door" system. Because charges are often dropped or reduced, few seem to face meaningful or long-term legal consequences.

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

It appears to have very little effect. Both police and community leaders note that arrest does not address the underlying drug addictions that drive the prostitutes back to the street.

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

Officers use "stings" and "reverse stings" (targeting buyers), and high-visibility patrols to "keep signs [of prostitution] to a minimum.

7. Are any of these responses especially effective?

No. The police admit their efforts are mostly to keep the problem "to a minimum" for the public, and residents feel the police are "ineffective" and "poor" in their response.

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

There is a church-run self-help workshop that offers job training, drug rehabilitation, and a program where volunteers check on children left alone at night.

9. Are prostitutes using available services?

Most are not. Many don't know the programs exist, and others distrust the system, fearing they will be reported to welfare or government caseworkers.

abeam19: Sp cq clients johns

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

The client base is diverse but includes a significant number of "family men" with stable, "good jobs." Many are described as being high on the social ladder. While some are local, others are "outsiders" like college students or men who drive into the city specifically to procure drugs and sex.

2. How committed are clients to prostitution?

For many Johns, the act is an "addiction" or a "power trip" involving a desire for sexual acts their "normal" partners won't perform. However, their commitment is fragile; they are easily scared off by a "bad vibe" or a visible police presence, though they almost always return when they feel the coast is clear.

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

Their biggest concerns are public exposure and disease. They are more afraid of their employers, friends, or families finding out about their activities than they are of paying a legal fine.

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

They stick to the "main drag" or thoroughfare where they feel safer from violent crime. They generally avoid going deep into residential neighborhoods or interacting with prostitutes who look "strung out," as they associate them with higher risks of robbery or disease.

lpowel39: 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)?

several forms

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

Prostitutes can be any gender, typically ranging from teenagers to middle aged adults.

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

Yes

4. Are street prostitutes the victims of crime?

Yes

5. How committed are prostitutes to prostitution?

Very committed for the money but they are not happy

6. How committed are they to a particular location?

Committed to areas that are known for privacy

lpowel39: Sp cq sexual transactions

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

Sometimes there is an even exchange

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

vehicle is most common

3. Where do the sexual transactions take place?

the cars

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

Yes mostly but it varies

lpowel39: Sp cq police community members

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

There aren't too concerned but will go undercover illicit.

2. How concerned is the community?

Not concerned

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

Family members, they don't want their loved ones involved in that life.

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

Not organized

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

low levels

lpowel39: Sp cq pimps

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

Yes

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