Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, in southern California, with a population of approximately 25,000. Prostitution and sex trafficking have been identified as substantial problems in the area.

In an effort to combat demand for commercial sex, which drives all prostitution and sex trafficking, police have engaged in a number of efforts. It is unclear when local law enforcement first began using reverse stings, but there is record of at least two street-level operations being conducted that resulted in the arrest of 20 men and one juvenile.  In general, prostitution arrests are not common in Barstow.  However, the area of California that Barstow occupies has been identified as a high-risk area for immigrant human trafficking, especially from Mexico.  Earlier in 2012, several police officers from the Barstow department participated in a sex trafficking training that was organized by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.