Shaming of the john.

[armadillo]

California police have resorted to 'john shame' in their fight against prostitution in Richmond California.

 

Sad.

 

 

http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/crime-law/richmond-police-use-social-media-fight-against-pro/nhG6j/

 

By John Sasaki

KTVU.com

RICHMOND, Calif. — 'John shaming' is one way that police try to wipe out prostitution. In Richmond, the police department has been using a new weapon in that battle: social media.

23rd Street has a history of prostitution. It’s where, on Thursday night, police conducted a sting in which undercover officers posing as prostitutes helped bust 11 men for solicitation.

"We have a wire, which recorded a lot of the conversations between the john and the undercover officer is recorded," said police Lt. Andre Hill.

What the suspects didn't know then is that by the next day, their faces would be on the department's Facebook page. "It's a technique used to shame and embarrass the suspects," added Hill.

KTVU did a story six months ago about the department's plans to use Facebook in ‘John shaming.’ At that time, KTVU talked with the owner of Sciarroni Auto Body shop about how bad the prostitution was on 23rd Street.

Jim Sciarroni says since then, it has improved. "Traffic has slowed down, there's very few that come by here during the day. The traffic on Ohio has quieted down."

But given that 11 men were arrested, the demand is clearly still there which is why police continue to use the tool. "In hopes that it will deter other suspects from coming to the city of Richmond, thinking that they can solicit prostitutes," says Hill.

But then solicitation is a misdemeanor. Critics of this practice argue posting the photos is too harsh a punishment that lasts for too long a time. "Ultimately, we will take those photos down after a period of time," said Hill.

Most people know what it's like to have a friend post an unflattering photo on social media. Richmond police are warning any potential john, the pictures they post are as unflattering as it gets.

[Edward]

They must have some handsome police officers. If I lived in Richmond I would start taking pictures of Richmond officers and post them on Daddy's.

[Boink]

Wow that sounds so retro. I didn't even know towns still had notorious areas where ladies of the evening hang out and 'johns' cruise around shopping. When they mentioned undercover cops posing as prostitutes, I conjured up images of Deputies Barney Fife and Goober in wigs, lipstick and boa feathers.

[armadillo]

So, it's not enough to arrest and charge them, the police are now acting as the Morality Police. Utterly ridiculous and a waste of resources.

 

Seems that legalizing and regulating prostitution would solve a lot of problems.

[+ Gar1eth]

They must have some handsome police officers. If I lived in Richmond I would start taking pictures of Richmond officers and post them on Daddy's.

 

I had the feeling that this was talking about female escorts/male clients. But the story doesn't really say.

 

Gman

[bigvalboy]

So, it's not enough to arrest and charge them, the police are now acting as the Morality Police. Utterly ridiculous and a waste of resources.

 

Seems that legalizing and regulating prostitution would solve a lot of problems.

 

Precisely. Police have been using these sort of tactics for sometime now. In Hollywood they periodically concentrate on a few street corners that are in high traffic areas, or areas with high visibility. Clean up the area, pat themselves on the back, only to have it all just move right down the street, or come back a few weeks later. All just a waste of resources and money.

[paulsf]

The working girls in Richmond, arent your average Ho. Most are well aged, over weight, and not overly classy. When Oakland tried to clamp down on Prostitution, a lot of them moved up to Richmond. They don't cater to the SF or East Bay hills crowd. More to the guy that just cashed his welfare check. There was more daytime activity till this crackdown.

[Steven_Draker]

Before legalizing and regulating, you can start with decriminalizing prostitution.

 

Write those letters to your Congressman and House Representative. Get out of your anonymous status.

[calrichmond]

I actually live in Richmond, California, and, frankly, we have "real" crime here. After layoffs to city services, police and fire departments, the city would better be served by focusing on gang violence or many other issues. (I live in the nice area of Richmond)

 

The prostitutes they are talking about cruising 23rd street are really, really, really sad. They are mostly crack addicts and are under the control of violent pimps. More than once johns have been attacked by pimps, beaten up and robbed.

[armadillo]

They are mostly crack addicts and are under the control of violent pimps. More than once johns have been attacked by pimps, beaten up and robbed.

 

Sounds like some of the johns got off easy with just a misdemeanor arrest.

 

That said, why don't the coppers shame alleged violent gang members by posting their pics? (Or maybe they can't be shamed?)

[+ deej]

That said, why don't the coppers shame alleged violent gang members by posting their pics? (Or maybe they can't be shamed?)

 

Gang members would compete/campaign to get their pictures included.

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

The "shaming of the john."

 

I seem to have missed this during my recent trip to Spain.

[+ quoththeraven]

Writing to Congressmen about this is pointless. Laws about this are within state jurisdiction, which is why prostitution is legal in parts of Nevada but not elsewhere.

 

I know this seems weird to people from other countries, but that's the way the federal system set up by the US constitution works. Also keep in mind that we have states that are larger than a lot of countries. I have a friend from Scotland who knew intellectually how large the US is but was still shocked by its size and the differences in terrain and culture when she flew from Glasgow to the West Coast (Portland, OR, I believe) and then traveled by car to Yellowstone and back.

[Steven_Draker]

Writing to Congressmen about this is pointless.

 

OK. You've got the idea.

 

Write to whoever can change the current legislation.

 

Complaining anonymously about it here is "pointless".