Asheville, NC

Categories:

Tactics Used
Auto Seizure ✓
Buyer Arrests ✓
Cameras ✓
Community Service ✓
Employment Loss ✓
Identity Disclosure ✓
IT Based Tactics ✓
John School ✓
Letters ✓
License Suspension ✓
Neighborhood Action ✓
Public Education ✓
Reverse Stings ✓
SOAP Orders ✓
Web Stings ✓

Asheville is a city of roughly 94,000 residents in western North Carolina, in Buncombe County. Local prostitution generates numerous complaints to police and is linked to a number of other serious crimes, including child endangerment, assault, and homicide.

Street-level and web-based reverse stings have occurred in Asheville since at least 2004, according to police surveyed for the National Assessment. Since 2008, the identities of arrested sex buyers have been publicized on the police department website “police blotter” as well as in local news outlets. Street and web-based reverse stings were conducted in 2010, 2012, and 2015.

The city also sends “Suspicious Activity Notice” postcards to the homes of registered car owners whose vehicles have been suspected of being used during solicitation. This version of a “Dear John” letter began in 2008 as well. Complaints to police by businesses and residents play a large role in law enforcement activity combatting demand in Asheville.

Key Partners

  • Asheville Police Department
  • Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office
  • Buncombe County Magistrate
  • Buncombe County Anti-Crime Task Force

Key Sources

National Assessment Interviews (2012)

Sex Buyer Arrests with Identity Disclosure:

Reverse Stings:

Identity Disclosure:

Sex Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation in the Area:

Background on Prostitution in the Area:

Documented Violence Against Individuals Engaged in Prostitution in the Area:

State North Carolina
Type City
Population 94067
Location
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