Public Service Projects: Addressing Street Prostitution in Buffalo, NY

Pamela Beal, Director Regional Community Policing CenterUniversity at Buffalouci.buffalo.edu/rcpc/rcpc.htm

The Problem

Complaints from the community:– paraphernalia, residents

mistakenly solicitedTask: – provide data and computer

mappingData: – E-911 calls for prostitution

• nearly1000 in 1996– Crime / arrest records:

• Recidivism rates: Johns 8%, Prostitutes 66%

Building Coalitions

Buffalo Police DepartmentProstitution Task ForceErie County District AttorneyBuffalo City CourtErie County Health DepartmentSocial Service ProvidersUniversity at Buffalo

Response - Enforcement

Operation Johnny: Narcotics & Vice reverse sting– Pilot goes citywide to avoid displacement

Prostitute arrests decline, Johns increase– Approaches equity

Alternative sentencing for first time offenders:– John School - 1 day with $100 fee, talks from

former prostitute, HIV/Aids education, ADA– Magdalene Program – 8 weeks; many stay 1

year

Arrests Prostitute vs. John

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1996 1997 1998 1999

Prostitute

John

Community Outreach

Assessment

John School– recidivism less than 1% (5 in 600)

Magdelene Program – recidivism 3% (3 in 90)

Officer observation – from several arrests per wk to a few per

month

911 calls reduced by 60%

911 Calls - Prostitution

0100200300400500600700800

9001000

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000