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Perceptions of Atlanta: The Sex IndustryAtlanta has a thriving adult sex industry. There are approximately 4,000 strippers who work at the 40 adultclubs in the metro Atlanta area (Emerson, 2005). As result, Atlanta has developed a national reputation as asexual tourist destination. Internet sex guides and blogs offer comprehensive guides to escort services inAtlanta. Even Craig’s List advertises Atlanta-specific sex services.Within the last year, you see more and more girls out on the streets,and it is because so many pimps are coming into the city from otherlocations and other states. Their thing is to put the juveniles towork on the streets. They feel that the money is here in the city.They are flocking here in droves.Sgt. D.M. Williams, Atlanta Police Department1Statement of Chris Swecker, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division, Federal Bureau ofInvestigation before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe United States HelsinkiCommission, June 7, 20052A panderer is any person who engages a minor to participate, for pay or barter, in a sexual act withhimself/herself or others, where no physical force is used. Panderers are also called consumers, clients, buyers,johns, tricks, and dates.3This finding is consistent with Estes & Weiner, 2002 and ECPAT, 2005.4Stop It Now! Georgia is a program of Prevent Child Abuse Georgia. Prevent Child Abuse Georgia is a privatenon-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse in all of its forms. Through preventionprograms and public awareness activities, Prevent Child Abuse Georgia and a network of communities aremaking a difference in the state of Georgia. The goal of Stop It Now! Georgia is to help adults take responsibilityfor preventing the sexual abuse of children.5Statement of Chris Swecker, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division, Federal Bureau ofInvestigation before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe United States HelsinkiCommission, June 7, 2005.21