Identity Disclosure

A demand-reduction tactic that has been used in more than 2,430 U.S. cities and counties involves publicizing the identities of sex buyers. This tactic can take many forms. Methods of publicly disseminating identities include news outlets, police or district attorney websites, social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter), and/or billboards. In some communities, citizens initiate and maintain websites identifying sex buyers (e.g., Columbus, OH; Oklahoma City, OK). In June 2019, the Governor of Florida signed a bill into law that created a registry of convicted sex buyers (similar to sex offender registries) and provides a publicly accessible listing of identifying information, including the full legal names, last known addresses, color photos, and criminal history. Through the implementation of the new law, convicted sex buyers in all communities in Florida are potentially subject to having their identities publicly disclosed through the state registry. More information about Florida’s “Soliciting Prostitution Public Database” can be found HERE.

Another tactic that can be considered a form of identity disclosure involves sending a letter or other notification to the addresses of registered owners of vehicles suspected of being used to solicit prostitution, alerting owners that their vehicle was seen in an area known for prostitution, or was used to interact with prostituted persons. Alternatively, notification may be sent to the home addresses of sex buyers arrested in reverse stings. The letters usually include warnings citing health risks for sex buyers, their spouses and other partners, and the harm of commercial sex to communities and survivors. The use of “Dear John” letters or messages intended to alert those living with known or suspected sex buyers is relatively rare, with less than 100 cities and counties known to have ever employed this tactic. Information about that approach is presented on the webpage for the tactic, “Letters.”

To learn more about Identity Disclosure and how it has been implemented, please see our Tactic Summary document (March, 2023) as well as the links to resources provided below. You may also locate where in the United States that this tactic has been used by visiting Demand Forum’s mapping or listing function, and selecting from the list of tactics. By clicking on each of the cities and counties listed or mapped, you may access brief summaries of the implementation of each tactic in that community, and links to source documentation.

City Council Motion Authorizing Public Identification of Arrested Sex Buyers