Pensacola is a city of approximately 54,000 residents in Escambia County in western Florida. Prostitution and child sex trafficking have been well-documented problems in the city for many decades. Other crimes associated with commercial sex have also occurred locally, including the assault and murder of prostituted women and a serial killer who targeted prostituted persons in Pensacola, who killed at least eight women.  Several other unsolved homicides and cases of missing persons involved in prostitution have also occurred in the city.

Tactics used to minimize the negative impact of the local commercial sex market have included efforts to combat demand. In 2005, a reverse sting in the city resulted in the arrest of nine men. In December 2013, January 2014, and July 2017, reverse stings were conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, including some that were web-based. It is unclear how many of the men arrested were apprehended in Pensacola versus in other towns and unincorporated areas of the county. The mugshots and names of the arrestees were publicly posted.

In 2009, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office released a copy of a letter that was sent to the registered owners of the vehicles involved in arrests for violations of Florida prostitution laws. The letters were sent to vehicle owners along with a copy of Florida Statute 796.07, which prohibits prostitution. The letter notified a vehicle owner that a vehicle registered in their name was involved in a prostitution arrest and will name the person arrested in the vehicle. It also notifies the vehicle owner that their vehicle could be seized when involved in some crimes. It also advises people of the risks associated with sexually transmitted diseases and advises testing for STDs if involved with the person arrested.