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Prostitution
Operations to Continue on Long Beach Boulevard, Sheriff’s Deputies
Say
Ongoing anti-prostitution
campaign involves multiple strategies
By
Cheryl Scott
Bulletin Staff
Writer
Prostitutes on Long Beach Boulevard should take heed. They are
the target of a continuous and ongoing operation that is part of Compton’s
zero-tolerance policy.
According to figures from the Compton Sheriff’s Station Crime Analysis
Unit, the number of arrests and citations for prostitution from Jan.
1 of this year through Nov. 14 total 227. Approximately one third have
been sent to the city attorney for prosecution. The remaining cases have
been sent to the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office.
“The goal of the program is to eliminate prostitution on the streets
of the city and to send a clear message that the activity will
not be tolerated in the city of Compton,” said Sgt. Greg Saunders
of Compton Station. “We approach the problem with five different
law enforcement elements.”
First, the department has increased uniformed patrol on Long Beach
Boulevard, the busiest street for prostitution in the city. According
to Saunders, “This lets everyone out there know we are aware of
the level of prostitution on Long Beach Boulevard and delivers a message
that we don’t want it here in Compton.”
Secondly, prostitution sweeps are conducted regularly, arresting
suspected prostitutes for loitering for the purpose of prostitution and
for acts of prostitution. “Once arrests are made, it doesn’t
take long for the word to get around that this city is aggressively going
after prostitutes,” Saunders said.
A third tactic is undercover operations and arrests for solicitation. “These
are prostitution operations that are conducted regularly,” said
Saunders.
A fourth strategy is added with “John stings,” in which undercover
deputies and uniformed deputies arrest men soliciting sex from prostitutes. “We
arrest them and their vehicles are towed as well,” Saunders said.
The fifth step in the operation is stepped-up community policing. “We
approach individual citizens, groups, block clubs and business owners
and ask them to collaborate with our efforts to keep the streets of Compton
crime-free,” said Saunders. “They are our eyes and ears.
We ask them to call the station if they observe crimes of any kind or
to dial 911 for emergencies.”
According to figures assembled by the City Attorney’s Office, the
number of prostitution arrests and citations for the years 2005 and 2004
totaled 332 and 528 respectively. “Based on this data, it appears
that the number of arrests for prostitution is declining,” said
contract attorney Merle Greene, who has been working with the city on
the anti-prostitution operations. “More than 97 percent of the
60 to 70 criminal cases filed by the City Attorney’s Office so
far this year have been adjudicated and received misdemeanor convictions.
The offenders will remain on summary probation for at least the next
two years.”
Saunders said that alleged prostitutes with valid identification
and no warrants are usually issued citations in the field if they promise
to appear in court. “However, if there are warrants out for them
or they have criminal records, they are brought to jail. They usually
exercise their legal right to post bail,” he said. “Their
cases are either prosecuted by the city or sent to the district attorney.”
Prostitutes who are cited in the field are frequently referred
to several programs available to them through the city and the county
that are designed to help them get out of the lifestyle if they choose.
All cases filed by the city attorney are prosecuted as misdemeanors,
and those convicted of prostitution-related offenses will have misdemeanor
convictions on their records. “No charge is ever reduced to an
infraction,” said Greene. “This applies to both prostitutes
and ‘johns.’”
The typical sentence for a first-time offense for prostitution
includes 10-30 days of county jail time, community service or Cal Trans
work; a fine of $100-$300 plus penalties and assessments that often add
up to approximately three times the initial fine; AIDS testing and education;
a court order to stay away from the area of the committed offense during
a probationary period of two to three years.
Previous offenders receive stiffer sentences. A person who has
been convicted of prostitution once must serve a minimum of 45 days in
county jail. Those who have been previously convicted of two or more
prostitution offenses serve a minimum of 90 days in county jail.
In the year 2004, there were 12 sting operations. In 2005 there
were seven. So far this year there have been six. More operations are
expected between now and the end of the year and into 2007.
“The message is clear,” said Saunders. “This is an
illegal activity and it will not be tolerated in this city. It lowers
the quality
of life for everyone involved, including innocent citizens who
live in these areas or who operate businesses in places where there is
heavy
prostitution activity. The valued citizens of our community deserve
to be protected from this criminal activity. It’s our job to do
that. And we will.”
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