Wisconsin

"Johns" being targeted in Milwaukee
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'Johns' targeted in prostitution crackdown on Milwaukee's south side
By Ashley Luthern of the Journal Sentinel
Oct. 30, 2013

 
City officials and local law enforcement have enacted a new, multi-layered plan to fight prostitution on Milwaukee's near south side that addresses not only prostitution, but also their pimps and "johns" — those who hire prostitutes.

"This is not by any means a victimless crime," Ald. Bob Donovan said Wednesday. "Every day someone suffers immensely because of the prostitution that is going on in this neighborhood."

Donovan and Ald. José Pérez led a news conference Wednesday with the Milwaukee Police Department and Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office that detailed the new initiative.

The "johns" are now booked into county jail facilities, and their mug shots will be posted online and distributed to media outlets, Milwaukee police Capt. Alfonso Morales said. Their vehicles also are towed when they get arrested, resulting in an immediate financial penalty, usually at least $100.

"You will see they are people that you work with, family members, people in the community that are living a secret life," Morales said.

Investigators also are gathering intelligence on pimps who are suspected of human trafficking and will collaborate with the state Department of Justice's Criminal Investigation Division on those charges.

Prostitutes are being screened to determine if they are addicted to drugs, have been trafficked or suffered from domestic abuse, and are referred to local agencies La Luz Del Mundo Family Services and Inner Beauty Center for services. Many also are receiving deferred prosecution agreements, even on municipal violations, as long as they are in treatment.

Already, the program has seen some success. Prostitution-related street robberies appear to be trending down — dropping from a handful per week to one per week — since the initiative began in police District 2 in late August, Morales said.

Donovan and Pérez also said their constituents have noticed a general decline in prostitution in the area.

Darwin Constantine has lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years and said prostitution had been a longstanding problem. He often picks up litter and regularly sees discarded condoms and hypodermic needles on busy streets and back alleys.

"I think it takes the neighborhood down quite a bit because it brings in a lot of bad elements, the drugs and the shootings and the robberies," Constantine said. "My wife was accosted in the alley from somebody looking for money."

He was pleased to hear about the anti-prostitution plan.

"If they can arrest the john, publicly humiliate him and take his car," Constantine said, pausing briefly before continuing: "You know, it's one of those things that now you've basically ruined his family, but it's something they will have to realize is a possibility when they engage in that."

Police have arrested more than 60 people since the effort began in August.

Read more from Journal Sentinel: http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/johns-targeted-in-prostitution-crackdown-on-milwaukees-south-side-b99131567z1-229946671.html#ixzz2jOvl79oX
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Posted By: gceffinahole
'Johns' targeted in prostitution crackdown on Milwaukee's south side  
 By Ashley Luthern of the Journal Sentinel  
 Oct. 30, 2013  
   
   
 City officials and local law enforcement have enacted a new, multi-layered plan to fight prostitution on Milwaukee's near south side that addresses not only prostitution, but also their pimps and "johns" — those who hire prostitutes.  
   
 "This is not by any means a victimless crime," Ald. Bob Donovan said Wednesday. "Every day someone suffers immensely because of the prostitution that is going on in this neighborhood."  
   
 Donovan and Ald. José Pérez led a news conference Wednesday with the Milwaukee Police Department and Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office that detailed the new initiative.  
   
 The "johns" are now booked into county jail facilities, and their mug shots will be posted online and distributed to media outlets, Milwaukee police Capt. Alfonso Morales said. Their vehicles also are towed when they get arrested, resulting in an immediate financial penalty, usually at least $100.  
   
 "You will see they are people that you work with, family members, people in the community that are living a secret life," Morales said.  
   
 Investigators also are gathering intelligence on pimps who are suspected of human trafficking and will collaborate with the state Department of Justice's Criminal Investigation Division on those charges.  
   
 Prostitutes are being screened to determine if they are addicted to drugs, have been trafficked or suffered from domestic abuse, and are referred to local agencies La Luz Del Mundo Family Services and Inner Beauty Center for services. Many also are receiving deferred prosecution agreements, even on municipal violations, as long as they are in treatment.  
   
 Already, the program has seen some success. Prostitution-related street robberies appear to be trending down — dropping from a handful per week to one per week — since the initiative began in police District 2 in late August, Morales said.  
   
 Donovan and Pérez also said their constituents have noticed a general decline in prostitution in the area.  
   
 Darwin Constantine has lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years and said prostitution had been a longstanding problem. He often picks up litter and regularly sees discarded condoms and hypodermic needles on busy streets and back alleys.  
   
 "I think it takes the neighborhood down quite a bit because it brings in a lot of bad elements, the drugs and the shootings and the robberies," Constantine said. "My wife was accosted in the alley from somebody looking for money."  
   
 He was pleased to hear about the anti-prostitution plan.  
   
 "If they can arrest the john, publicly humiliate him and take his car," Constantine said, pausing briefly before continuing: "You know, it's one of those things that now you've basically ruined his family, but it's something they will have to realize is a possibility when they engage in that."  
   
 Police have arrested more than 60 people since the effort began in August.  
   
 Read more from Journal Sentinel: http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/johns-targeted-in-prostitution-crackdown-on-milwaukees-south-side-b99131567z1-229946671.html#ixzz2jOvl79oX  
 Follow us: @NewsHub on Twitter  
   
   
 

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