One method used in over 2,130 U.S. cities and counties involves publicizing the identities of arrested sex buyers.  The “shaming” tactic can take many forms. Methods of dissemination 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 johns (e.g., Columbus, OH; Oklahoma City, OK). In June, 2019, the Governor of Florida signed a bill into law the created a registry of convicted sex buyers, and provides a publicly-accessible listing of their identities, including photos, names, and addresses. If fully implemented, all communities in Florida would be included as using shaming as a tactic applied to sex buyers.

Another tactic that can be considered “shaming” involves sending a letter or other notification to the address of registered owners of vehicle suspected of being used to solicit prostituted individuals, alerting owners that their car was seen in an area known for prostitution. Alternatively, letters may be sent to the home addresses of men arrested in reverse stings. The letters usually include warnings citing health risks for johns, their spouses and other partners, and the harm of commercial sex to communities and survivors.  The use of “Dear John” letters intended to alert those living with known or suspected sex buyers is relatively rare, with just 90 cities and counties known to employ this tactic. Information about that approach is presented in the webpage for the tactic, “Letters.”

• Locate cities and counties that have used this tactic

To learn more about this intervention, access the resources below.

City Council Motion Authorizing Shaming of Arrested Sex Buyers

• Cincinnati City Council Motion (PDF, 82.2KB)

Registry of Convicted Sex Buyers

• New Florida Law Establishes Publicly-Accessible List of Convicted Sex Buyers (2019)

Police Press Releases

• Bakersfield CA Information About Arrestees (PDF, 0.9 KB)
• Costa Mesa, CA Police Press Release (PDF, 25.1KB)
• Dayton, OH Police Press Release
• Federal Way, WA Police Press Release (PDF, 73.3KB)
• Howard County, MD
• Mount Laurel, NJ Police Press Release (PDF, 26.1KB)

Police/District Attorney Website Displays of Arrested Sex Buyers

• Minneapolis, MN
• Polk County, FL
• Flint, MI

Private Websites Intended to Shame Sex Buyers:

• Columbus, OH

Billboards Displaying Identities of Arrested Sex Buyers

• Albany, NY

News Reports About Communities Identifying Arrested Sex Buyers

• Dayton, OH
  • “Dayton to Air Names of Prostitute Patrons”, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 10 1993.
  • “Names Ad Makes Lovers Mad”, Dayton Daily News, February 14 1993.
  • https://www.whio.com/dayton-announces-initiative-combat-prostitution (2019)
  • https://www.wdtn.com/city-of-dayton-announces-buyer-s-remorse-initiative-to-combat-prostitution (2019)

• Nassau County, NY (Long Island).  Operation “Flush the Johns”
  • http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/104-johns-nabbed-nassau-county-pay-sex-article-1.1361717
  • http://www.officer.com/news/nassau-county-ny-police-arrest-more-than-100-during-sex-stings
  • http://www.theislandnow.com/new_hyde_park/article
  • http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Johns-List-Long-Island-Nassau-County-Prostitution-Customers
  • http://www.care2.com/causes/flushing-the-johns-is-a-welcome-change-from-arresting-sex-workers.html
• Orange County, CA.  District Attorney initiative to post johns on website, 2013.
  • http://www.ocregister.com/articles/prostitution-516711-prosecutors-sex.html
• Reno, NV.  Editorial.
  • http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2014/03/23/editorial-how-to-curb-sex-trafficking-make-johns-names-public
• San Bernardino County, CA.  Print and video reports on the District Attorney’s Office “Stop the Johns” project
  • Saunders, D.  (2013).  DA’s Stop the Johns Program to Shame Sex Solicitors.  Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, April 3. 
  • http://blog.pe.com/crime-blotter/2013/04/02/video-san-bernardino-da-aims-to-crack-down-on-prostitution/
  • http://www.inlandnewstoday.com/story.php?s=28250
• Santa Ana & Orange County, CA.
  • “Police Publicize Names of Alleged Johns in Prostitution Sting”, Los Alamitos Patch, May 17 2013.
  • http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/06/11/oc-authorities-fighting-prostitution-by-shaming-customers/
• Yakima, WA.  News reports about new shaming effort, beginning June, 2013.
  • http://www.kndu.com/story/yakima-police-arrest-eight-men-for-patronizing-prostitute
  • http://www.kimatv.com/news/local/Photos-Yakima-IDs-men-charged-during-prostitution-emphasis
  • http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/yhr/tuesday/1222592-8/yakima-police-launch-prostitution-sting

Editorials and Debates about Shaming Sex Buyers

• Should cities shame johns by putting their faces on billboards, television, and the internet after their arrest?
• The Men Who Buy — and Sell — Sex (New York Times)
• Cities turn to humiliation to fight prostitution (Christian Science Monitor)
• The shame page (Chicago Tribune)
• John TV considered in Topeka
• New Haven, CT “John of the Week” Campaign
• Televised discussion about Nassau County, Long Island “Flush the Johns” campaign (2013)

Media Ads with Arrestee Identities

•  Dayton, OH Print Advertisement Purchased by Dayton Police Department (PDF, 14.4KB)

News Reports on Running Media Ads with Arrestee Identities

• Buffalo, NY, 2013
  • http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article/CITYANDREGION/
  • http://www.newstimes.com/news/crime/article/To-fight-prostitution-Buffalo-tries-humiliation
• West Palm Beach, FL, 1992:
  • Town to fight prostitution with publicity
  • Mayor: Name Johns Publicize Sex Arrests, Delray Official Says

Download Adobe Reader