atlanta_women_05_girls_0109

These men are criminals because they are soliciting this behaviorfrom a child. They are molesters. We have to stop looking atthese girls like they are willfully behaving this way. This is not awillful act.Linda Watson, Probation OfficerDeKalb County Juvenile CourtAddressing Adult ProstitutionThere is a significant spatial association between adult prostitution activities and arrests of juveniles. Untiladult prostitution activities are effectively targeted, these clusters and tracks will continue to provide a space forchildren to be prostituted. There is an absence of programs in Atlanta assisting women exiting prostitution.Unlike many major cities, Atlanta does not have a First Offenders Prostitution Program (FOPP) or “Johnschool.” 1 FOPP offers panderers of adult prostitution services the opportunity to participate in this programrather than be charged and jailed. Men pay a fee and attend a class that covers the penal risks and practicalconsequences of continued criminal conduct and educates them about HIV and STDs. Prostitution survivorsspeak about childhood risk factors, violence, drug use, rehabilitation, being pimped, recruitment, and traffickingtactics used against women and girls. FOPPs in other cities have shown lowered recidivism, decreased costsfrom lowered use of the criminal justice system and health care, improved quality of life in the areas affectedby prostitution, and the entry of former prostitutes into mainstream jobs and lifestyles.RecommendationsVulnerable girls will remain hidden in plain view unless the community gets involved to address CSE. Thefollowing are recommendations for assisting victims of CSE and preventing CSE (a plan of action forimplementation of the recommendations and a fiscal impact analysis will be developed separately):Creation of a community action plan with stakeholder buy-in (law enforcement, judicial services, human serviceproviders, and community leaders) to facilitate better coordination, inter-agency communication, and continuityof care for victims of CSE. All sectors should be held accountable for implementing their area of responsibilityand creating benchmarks for change.Law Enforcement and Justice System• Review current laws related to CSE and amend if necessary• Facilitate the prosecution of panderers as child sex abusers and place them on sex offenders lists;prosecute pimps under law creating felony for pimping a minor• Create a school for johns (e.g. First Offenders Prostitution Program). Research the models used inseveral other US cities that charge a fee to the john (to cover the expenses of the program andalso help underwrite the services to victims)• Enforce the crime of transportation for purposes of prostitution• Re-institute policy of seizing vehicles of johns when they are arrested36• Create a social service resource book for APD that provides contact information for all availablenon-profit organizations that serves this population