The El Cajon CA police are using the internet to fight back against convicted street walkers.  Terms of probation include not talking to motorists and not possessing a cell phone along Main Street and not advertising on Craigslist.


From The San Diego Union-Tribune:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071030/news_1m30copsite.html

Prostitutes' photos, case details put online

Police hope it deters crime; clients' mug shots to come

October 30, 2007

EL CAJON – Mug shots of convicted prostitutes are appearing on the El Cajon Police Department's Web site. Police hope to discourage them from plying their trade in town using a 21st-century version of public flogging.

Pictures of 11 women, details of their crimes and areas where they are banned from loitering were posted as of yesterday. Police said they plan to add pictures of convicted “johns” – the clients – within weeks. They are urging viewers to report when the offenders violate probation.

“Our Web site is always in revision,” said El Cajon police Chief Cliff Diamond. “We have always viewed it as a good intervention tool to keep our community apprised of crime trends, wanted persons and missing persons.”

Publication of convicted criminals' mug shots is the latest of several unconventional tactics that El Cajon and other cities have tried in recent years to discourage prostitution.

Twelve years ago, the La Mesa City Council tried to stifle such activity by publishing photos of convicted “johns” in the media. In July, El Cajon and National City were among several cities statewide that were told to abandon laws allowing them to impound vehicles of motorists who tried to buy sex on the streets. That tactic ended when the state Supreme Court ruled that cities could no longer seize vehicles of people suspected of soliciting prostitution.

In El Cajon, the number of prostitution arrests has decreased since a peak of 100 in 2003, when a large number of stings were conducted. After five stings this year, 25 arrests have been made.

The goal of putting the faces of convicted prostitutes on the Web “is to move them and the crimes that come with them out of our city,” said El Cajon police Special Investigations Sgt. Mike Hook.

The tactic has drawn mixed reactions.

Marjorie Cohn, a professor at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, said the Web site violates the women's right to privacy.

“It's an incredible invasion of the privacy of the women, with no real benefit to law enforcement,” Cohn said.

For some businesses along the corridors best known for prostitution activity in El Cajon, the high-tech approach is welcome.

“I think it's a good idea because we get a lot of them hanging around here,” said John Crisp, owner of Bath-Co Shower Door on Main Street east of Johnson Avenue. “It's not good for business.”

Larry Wilson, owner of Mustang Auto on El Cajon Boulevard near Wilson Avenue, said putting the pictures on the Internet will probably discourage prostitution in El Cajon. But he also wondered how to help those arrested.

“I think it's a good idea, but what do you do?” Wilson asked. “What can we do to help these people? These girls need to get involved in a church somehow, and they'll help them turn their lives around.”

The Rev. Mary Moreno Richardson, an Episcopal priest in San Diego who has publicly opposed the trafficking and sexual exploitation of women, said the department's decision to publish pictures of female offenders appeared to be selectively punishing them without trying to solve the problem.

“This story is as old as time,” Richardson said. “I think they should offer solutions and services to these women, who have already completed their sentences and paid for these crimes.”

Councilman Gary Kendrick sees it as a deterrent.

“I think someone is less likely to engage in prostitution in El Cajon if they know their picture is going to end up on our Web site,” he said.

at least we know Brother Haggard won't schtup them!

Do they have "ElCajon police verified" pics, and do they get to run an ad under their pic? lol

all they are doing is undercutting Eros with their own homemade Craig's List.

It will probably increase the number of customers too.

There's no such thing as bad publicity.

If all this time and manpower was spent on something worthwhile... victims. Go get a rapist or sex offender off the street. Their priorities crack me up.

Man most of those women were not on the attractive side IMHO.
For the most part, all I see it doing is making the ladies move to another part of El Cajon where they are not prohibited or another part of San Diego County.

It's the same old story.  Selective prosecution of women by law enforcement - while at the same time LE does NOTHING to provide options.

"Get a real job" they say.  What?  At $5.00 an hour - vs $300.  With no job training, a crack habit, no place to live or education.  Help the girls get jobs that pay the median average wage in San Diego - which last I heard was around $60,000 a year, and follow up until they are able to stand on their own.

Where are the men's photos?  They aren't there because the men have jobs and families and incomes and lawyers, and they would push back HARD.  They would have so many lawsuits the city would have to shut down.

But they can pick on a handfull of pathetic street hoe's who can't fight back.  Welcome to America.

Sigh,
TS Jamie

Many towns put men's pictures on-line.

Wow.......This asshole and a friend thought it might be fun.

Excerpt
"When confronted with evidence, Anderson admitted he was present during Olson's slaying but said the killing was committed by a friend of his who "thought it would be funny," according to the complaint.

Teen charged in Craigslist killing

By AMY FORLITI, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 54 minutes ago
MINNEAPOLIS - A 19-year-old man was charged with second-degree murder Tuesday in the killing of a woman who answered an ad on Craigslist for a baby sitter.

Michael John Anderson is accused of shooting Katherine Ann Olson in the back at his home in suburban Savage, according to the criminal complaint filed in Scott County District Court.

Bail was set at $1 million.

Olson had gone to Anderson's home Thursday to inquire about a baby-sitting job she had seen advertised on the popular Internet bulletin board, authorities said.

Authorities said blood was found in Anderson's home and a gun was found in his bedroom. A neighbor saw Olson's car sitting in front of Anderson's house for more than two hours Thursday, the complaint said.

The body of the 24-year-old Minneapolis woman was found Friday night in the trunk of her car, which was abandoned in a park about five blocks from Anderson's home. Olson's purse and a bag containing bloody towels, one of which bore Anderson's name, were found in trash nearby.

Anderson has been in the Scott County Jail since his arrest late Friday. His attorneys had no comment on the charge.

"I think in a case like this, we'll just let the judicial process take its course," said Robert M. Speeter, an attorney for Anderson.

Cell phone records indicated Anderson talked with Olson on Thursday morning, the court documents said. Anderson also said he had not used Craigslist since January, although the e-mail address in the ad matched his address. He told police his mother and three friends had access to the account.

When confronted with evidence, Anderson admitted he was present during Olson's slaying but said the killing was committed by a friend of his who "thought it would be funny," according to the complaint.

street hookers w/out makeup, after a night in the can, are not wonders of the world.

I bet the people in that area don't feel that way,street walkers and johns prowling your neighborhood affects your quality of life. If these women were working off of Craigslist out of an hotel mainly out of site. They would not be targeted by LE. And a lot of citys do post the men some even have a local tv show called johns tv.

Do they post a phone number? I might see one I'd like to meet! LOL! Cops are doing the advertising for us now. Cool.