Columbus, OH
Categories:
Tactics Used |
|
---|---|
Reverse stings | ✓ |
Shaming | ✓ |
Auto seizure | ✓ |
Community service | ✓ |
Public education | ✓ |
Neighborhood action | ✓ |
SOAP orders | ✓ |
John school | ✓ |
Letters | ✓ |
Cameras | ✓ |
Web stings | ✓ |
License suspension | ✓ |
Columbus was in the first wave of cities in the U.S. to focus on combating demand for commercial sex. Prostitution has been a problem in the city for decades, and more recently, several human trafficking cases have been investigated and convictions for sex trafficking have occurred. Among the numerous examples of problems stemming from prostitution and sex trafficking in Columbus is a case of a woman arrested for the third time after engaging in prostitution, even though she was known to be HIV-positive. The city has also served as the operating base of a serial killer who specifically targeted sex sellers. Several other documented cases of sex sellers being killed by johns have also been reported.
To combat consumer-level demand that drives both prostitution and sex trafficking, Columbus police have conducted reverse stings since 1974, and web-based reversals since 2008. A wide range of approaches have been adopted in the city, including public education and neighborhood action campaigns, and post-arrest interventions such as a john school, “Dear John” letters, and mandatory community service for offenders. For example, representatives of Rahab’s Hideaway, a program for women trying to escape from prostitution, have spoken at conferences and worked with local agencies and organizations to promote tactics intended to reduce demand.
While the city has employed these demand-driven tactics, the bulk of its efforts to combat prostitution in recent years focused on the arrest of sex sellers. In July 2013, the vice unit of the Columbus Police Department announced that it was changing the way it fights prostitution. Soon after, the department began a month-long campaign targeting sex buyers. Soon after, CPD vice detectives committed to spending as much time targeting customers as sellers, according to Cmdr. Gary Cameron of the Columbus Police Department narcotics bureau, which includes the vice squad. Although “80 to 90%” of past efforts to curb prostitution have focused on commercial sex providers, the CPD now “believe that arresting buyers could have a longer-lasting effect.”
The change was reportedly part of a larger central Ohio strategy that aimed to identify ways to fight prostitution beyond arresting sex sellers– who are often the victims of crimes themselves– and provide support services to women trying to leave prostitution. In August 2014, for example, following an anti-prostitution sweep by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office that resulted in the arrest of 28 sex sellers and 17 johns, law enforcement reported that the “women who were arrested were able to talk to a nurse and a representative from Amethyst Inc., an agency that provides long-term addiction and trauma care for homeless women. Workers from Southeast Inc., a behavioral and physical health-care service provider, also were there… they were also told about CATCH court, a specialty docket at Franklin County Municipal Court that works with women charged with prostitution offenses.” Rather incongruously, however, the FCSO chose to release the names and mugshots of the women arrested, but not the johns netted in the same operation.
Columbus Police Department vice detectives spent much of 2013 almost exclusively arresting customers during anti-prostitution details, and took 71 people into custody. Following one operation, an officer noted that “there were times that [the CPD was] operating on a street corner when there were more customers than [the CPD] had personnel to arrest.”
As of late 2018, Columbus laws allowed a fine of up to $1,000 and 30 days in jail, but few men serve any time in custody, and analysis of 2016 and 2017 court records showed the average for fines given to men caught soliciting was $72 (WOSU Public Media, February 2018).
In 2018 the vice unit of the Columbus Division of Police become the subject of a federal corruption investigation, and in March 2019 one of its detectives was indicted and the decision to disband the vice unit was announced. The Justice Department indicted a CPD detective alleging he kidnapped victims under the pretense of arrest and forced them to have sex for their freedom. The detective faces seven federal charges, and following the indictment the City Attorney’s Office dismissed 18 cases charging women with prostitution-related offenses that were investigated by that detective. The detective resigned since retired “in bad standing” from the department. It is unclear what impact that will have on future prostitution operations and the john school program in Columbus.
In 2016, a form of neighborhood or community action occurred when the Hilltonia Village Association in Columbus established the “Shaming Johns” website.
John School
Between 2007 and 2012, more than 150 men (mostly first-time offenders with no record of violence) completed the city’s john school program, launched by the Columbus City Attorney’s Office. As of the end of 2012, Assistant City Attorney Michael C. Allbritain reported that the program conducted three or four john school sessions per year, depending upon the flow of men provided by police operations. The program functions as both a diversion and a sentencing option. Some men are sent to the school as part of a plea agreement arranged by their attorneys, and others are ordered to attend as a condition of their probation (Decker, 2012). Speakers include police officers, women formerly involved in prostitution, health officials, and community activists. When asked about the program, Allbritain said:
“This program is useful and runs at little to no cost. If we did not have this program, the john would most likely pay a small fine and then get his case expunged. The point of this program is to educate them and let them know that this is not a victimless crime.”
Upon completion of the program, one of the johns (a 48-year-old salesman) attending a 2012 session commented:
“Both the disease aspect and the safety aspect were huge to me. It wasn’t judgmental. It was about understanding the situation, and I appreciated that. I can’t say it’s going to work for everyone. You’re going to reach some, and that’s better than not doing it at all.”
In February 2016, the Columbus Dispatch reported that a high-profile john arrested during a web-based reversal had been offered the diversion program as an alternative sentence. The john pleaded guilty to misdemeanor solicitation in January 2016, completed the course, and had the solicitation charge dropped in February 2016.
From 2016 to 2019, over 200 men had completed the John School program in Columbus.
Key Partners
- Columbus Police Department
- Columbus City Attorney’s Office
- Columbus Department of Public Health
- South Side Neighbors Against Crime
- Franklin County Municipal Court
- Changing Actions to Change Habits (CATCH) Program
- Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force
- Central Ohio Rescue and Restore Coalition
- Rahab’s Hideaway
- Amethyst, Inc.
- Southeast, Inc.
- She Has a Name
Key Sources
- National Assessment Survey, Interviews
- John School:
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- “City Hopes ‘John School’ Will Curb Prostitution”, Columbus Dispatch, June 11 2007.
- “School Aims to Teach Men Perils of Picking Up Prostitutes”, Norwalk Hour, June 11 2007.
- “Johns Go to John School”, NBC/WCMH TV 4, September 3 2008.
- “Ohio Court Aims to Rehabilitate Prostitutes”, WHTC 1450 Radio, November 9 2010.
- “Men Buying Sex Attend John School”, Examiner, June 20 2011.
- “‘John School’ Lesson: Prostitution Has Victims”, Columbus Dispatch, December 17 2012.
- https://humantrafficking.ohio.gov/links/John-Schools-Report.pdf (2015)
- “Ohio State Football; Adolphus Washington Pleads Guilty to Solicitation,” Columbus Dispatch, January 20 2016.
- “Solicitation Charge Dropped against Ohio State Football Player Adolphus Washington,” Columbus Dispatch, February 22 2016.
- https://www.logandaily.com/news/angle-ordered-to-attend-john-school
- https://www.logandaily.com/news/john-schools-curb-prostitution-with-education-over-jail-time
- http://radio.wosu.org/post/faced-sex-trafficking-surge-city-wonders-if-john-school-can-reduce-demand (2018)
- https://www.dispatch.com/officer-retires-as-part-of-guilty-plea-in-solicitation-case (2018)
- https://shehasaname.org/demand-reduction (2019)
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- Street-Level Reverse Stings:
- “Prostitutes in Short North See Crackdown; Problem Is Big during Daytime, Police Report”, Columbus Dispatch, November 18 1987.
- “Judge Orders VD Tests for 12 Suspects”, Columbus Dispatch, November 27 1987.
- “Vice Squad Lowers Boom on Hookers”, Columbus Dispatch, August 2 1990.
- “Good Police Work”, Columbus Dispatch, August 21 1990.
- “Police Arrest 81 Escort Service Customers”, Columbus Dispatch, September 16 1992.
- “Escort Service Sting Nets 93 Arrests”, Columbus Dispatch, September 19 1992.
- “Columbus Mayor’s Aide Faces Charge in Prostitution Bust”, Youngstown Vindicator, August 1 1996.
- “7 Men Arrested in Prostitution Sting”, Northland News, January 15 2003.
- “Henton Claims Police Didn’t Read Him His Rights”, Youngstown Vindicator, January 6 2008.
- “Role Reversal Lands Alleged Johns, Prostitutes in Jail”, NBC/WCMH-TV 4, August 27 2008.
- “Prostitution Sting Lands 16 People in Trouble”, NBC/WCMH-TV 4, February 21 2009.
- “15 Arrested in Northeast Side Prostitution Sting”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, April 27 2011.
- “30 Would-Be Johns Arrested During Prostitution Sting”, NBC/WCMH-TV 4, April 28 2011.
- “Police Jailing ‘Johns’ to Fight Prostitution”, Columbus Dispatch, July 25 2013.
- “Columbus Police Focus on Prostitution Customers in ‘End Demand’ Program”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, July 24 2013.
- “Police Go After the Johns”, Columbus Dispatch, September 9 2013.
- “Tackling Trafficking”, Columbus Dispatch, September 17 2013.
- “More than 60 Charged in Columbus Prostitution Round-up”, ABC/WRIC-TV 8, August 28 2014.
- “63 Women, Men Arrested in Columbus Prostitution Round-Up”, NBC/WCMH-TV 4, August 29 2014.
- “Anti-Prostitution Sweeps in Columbus Net Dozens of Arrests”, Columbus Dispatch, August 29 2014.
- “Franklin County Authorities Make Dozens of Arrests in Prostitution Crackdowns”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, August 29 2014.
- “Police Arrest Dozens of Prostitutes, Johns in Latest Crackdown”, ABC/WSYX-TV 6, August 29 2014.
- Web-Based Reverse Stings:
- “Ohio State Football; Adolphus Washington Pleads Guilty to Solicitation,” Columbus Dispatch, January 20 2016.
- “Solicitation Charge Dropped against Ohio State Football Player Adolphus Washington,” Columbus Dispatch, February 22 2016.
- https://myfox8.com/2019/09/15/2-dozen-men-arrested-in-child-sex-sting-operation-authorities-say/ (2019)
- Cameras:
- Public Education:
- Private “Shaming” Website:
- Neighborhood Action:
- “Short North Spies Know Who’s Naughty”, Columbus Dispatch, September 10 1989.
- “Short North Fighting Back against Crime”, Columbus Dispatch, July 22 1990.
- “Good Police Work”, Columbus Dispatch, August 21 1990.
- “East Side Group Hangs Fliers Naming Prostitutes’ Clients”, Columbus Dispatch, October 28 1992.
- https://www.10tv.com/article/progress-report-linden-neighborhood-teams-help-sex-workers (2017)
- Sex Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation in the Area:
- “47 Seized in Raids by FBI on Slavers; Most of Haul to Smash Traffic in Women Over State Lines Made at Ironton, Ohio”, New York Times, November 24 1947.
- “4 Indicted in White Slave Case”, Portsmouth Times, May 8 1978.
- “Young Hustlers Shock Vice Cops”, Columbus Dispatch, October 21 1985.
- “Just Arresting Them Doesn’t Keep Them off the Streets”, Columbus Dispatch, October 22 1985.
- “Short North Office to Open for Teens”, Columbus Dispatch, November 15 1985.
- “Merchants Divided on Prostitution Publicity”, Columbus Dispatch, December 5 1985.
- “Caseworkers OK’d to Fight Prostitution”, Columbus Dispatch, December 13 1985.
- “Exploited Teens to Get Help”, Columbus Dispatch, March 18 1986.
- “Life as Runaway, Teen Prostitute Was Cruel to Lisa”, Columbus Dispatch, April 30 1987.
- “Prostitute’s Poor Recall Hurts Probe”, Columbus Dispatch, May 2 1987.
- “Photos Lead to Arrest”, Columbus Dispatch, May 7 1986.
- “3 Held in Sex-Runaway Case”, Columbus Dispatch, May 5 1987.
- “Trio Violated ‘White Slavery’ Statute, Judge Finds”, Columbus Dispatch, August 21 1987.
- “Stripper’s Agent Tied to ‘Flesh’ Business; ‘Escorts’ Often Troubled Runaways”, Columbus Dispatch, December 12 1992.
- “Human Trafficking Often Below the Radar in Columbus”, Columbus Dispatch, November 19 2007.
- “Public Meeting Called to Discuss Sex Slavery”, NBC/WCMH-TV 4, July 9 2008.
- “2 Admit Taking Columbus Teen to Florida for Sex”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, December 3 2008.
- “Police: Local Man Raped Prostitute, Sold Her to Others”, NBC/WCMH-TV 4, December 9 2009.
- “Ex-Sex Slave Raises Awareness About Human Trafficking”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, January 9 2010.
- “Columbus Gets Its First Sex Trafficking Safe Haven”, NBC/WCMH-TV 4, March 7 2011.
- “Restaurant to Empower Victims of Human Trafficking”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, July 15 2011.
- “Prosecutor: Woman, 24, Lured to Columbus & Forced into Sex Slavery”, NBC/WCMH-TV 4, August 2 2012.
- “Columbus Man Charged in Trafficking of Women”, Columbus Dispatch, October 3 2012.
- “20 Years for Cleveland Man in Sex Trafficking Case”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, November 30 2012.
- “Ohio Makes Progress in Helping Victims of Human Trafficking”, Columbus Dispatch, January 11 2013.
- “Sex Traffickers Reach Girls Via Social Media”, Columbus Dispatch, January 24 2013.
- “Man, Woman Accused of Sex Trafficking Involving Teen Girl in Brothel”, Columbus Dispatch, April 26 2013.
- “Two Charged with Prostituting Teen”, Columbus Dispatch, April 27 2013.
- “Man Skips Trial, Pleads Guilty to Prostitution of Teen”, Columbus Dispatch, January 21 2014.
- “Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of Teen”, Norwalk Reflector, January 22 2014.
- “Father, Son Charged with Human Trafficking”, Columbus Dispatch, May 21 2014.
- “Father and Son Indicted on Human Trafficking Charges”, Cincinnati.com, May 21 2014.
- “Vice Squad Says Sex Trafficking Crimes on the Rise in Central Ohio”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, August 21 2014.
- “Father and Son Plead Guilty to Forcing Women into Prostitution”, WCBE-FM 90.5, September 12 2014.
- “Akron Man Charged with Selling Fairlawn Girl for Sex in Columbus”, Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 15 2014.
- “Kentucky Man Gets 13 1/2 Years for Forcing Women into Prostitution,” Columbus Dispatch, June 9 2015.
- “Ex-Choir Director Sentenced to Nearly 3 Years for Sex Crimes,” Findlay Courier, July 15 2015.
- “Man Sentenced to Seven Years after Pleading Guilty in Prostitution Case,” Columbus Dispatch, March 14 2016.
- Background on Prostitution in the Area:
- “Drive on Vice in Columbus”, Windsor Daily Star, August 1 1942.
- “Male Prostitute who Has AIDS Found by Police”, Columbus Dispatch, October 18 1985.
- “Old Problem Mars New Look of Short North Business District”, Columbus Dispatch, October 21 1985.
- “Community Planning Needed if Short North Is to Change”, Columbus Dispatch, November 25 1985.
- “Prostitute with AIDS Virus Is Fined, Released”, Columbus Dispatch, December 23 1985.
- “4 Arrested in Prostitution Raid”, Columbus Dispatch, March 27 1986.
- “Carrier of AIDS Virus Pleads Not Guilty to Prostitution Again”, Columbus Dispatch, August 25 1986.
- “Prostitutes Thriving in Columbus; Crack, Crowded Jails Fuel Problem, Police Say”, Columbus Dispatch, August 31 1989.
- “Prostitutes Back on Street Due to Jail Crowding”, Columbus Dispatch, July 12 1990.
- “Police Bust Alleged Prostitution Ring”, NBC/WCMH-TV 4, July 2 2008.
- “Internet Site Advertised Hooker Raffle, Police Say”, Columbus Dispatch, November 29 2008.
- “Breaking the Cycle of Prostitution”, Columbus Dispatch, December 30 2008.
- “Police: Man Sought Fantasy with Prostitute, Underage Girl”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, October 14 2009.
- “37 Arrested in Prostitution Bust”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, January 10 2012.
- “Sex Trade Sullies Sections of City”, Columbus Dispatch, March 2 2012.
- “24 Arrests Made in Prostitution Investigation on City’s West Side”, NBC/WCMH-TV 4, September 5 2012.
- “Franklinton Residents, Police Express Frustration”, Columbus Dispatch, September 6 2012.
- “54 People Arrested in Connection with Prostitution Sting”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, October 25 2012.
- “Franklinton Community Focuses Energy on Stopping Prostitution”, NBC/WCMH-TV 4, April 3 2013.
- “CATCH Court Changing Way Law Looks at Sex Trade Business”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, June 26 2013.
- “HIV-Positive Woman Convicted a Third Time of Soliciting”, Columbus Dispatch, December 10 2013.
- “HIV-Positive Prostitute Sent to Prison”, Columbus Dispatch, January 18 2014.
- “Columbus Officials Shut Down Hotel Named in Prostitution, Drug Complaints”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, January 22 2014.
- “Police Crack Down on Motels Used for Prostitution”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, August 22 2014.
- “Columbus Man Gets 18 Years on Prostitution, Gun Charges,” Columbus Dispatch, December 7 2015.
- http://radio.wosu.org/post/sullivant-avenue-cycle-heroin-and-prostitution#stream/0 (2017)
- http://radio.wosu.org/post/faced-sex-trafficking-surge-city-wonders-if-john-school-can-reduce-demand (2018)
- https://www.clickorlando.com/news/for-those-charged-with-or-involved-in-prostitution-this-program-changes-lives (2018)
- https://www.local10.com/news/for-those-charged-with-or-involved-in-prostitution-this-program-changes-lives (2018)
- https://www.pulse.ng/new-york-times/world/troubled-vice-unit-in-ohio-that-arrested-stormy-daniels-is-shut-down (2019)
- https://radio.wosu.org/post/community-members-question-future-columbus-police-without-vice-unit (2019)
- https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/neighbors-want-police-to-crackdown-on-prostitution-in-the-hilltop (2019)
- Documented Violence Against Individuals Engaged in Prostitution in the Area:
- “Judge Wants Prostitution Solutions”, Columbus Dispatch, December 12 1985.
- “Life as Runaway, Teen Prostitute Was Cruel to Lisa”, Columbus Dispatch, April 30 1987.
- “Prostitute’s Poor Recall Hurts Probe”, Columbus Dispatch, May 2 1987.
- “Witness: Victim Shot after Rape Attempt”, Columbus Dispatch, May 15 1987.
- “Prostitute Testifies She Shot Attacker”, Columbus Dispatch, May 20 1987.
- “Life as Runaway, Teen Prostitute Was Cruel to Lisa”, Columbus Dispatch, April 30 1987.
- “Officer Making Vice Arrests Fired Upon, But Bullets Miss”, Columbus Dispatch, March 10 1989.
- “Body of Beaten Woman Found in House”, Columbus Dispatch, October 3 1989.
- “2 Boys Charged in Death; 13, 14-Year-Old Killed Prostitute Last Fall, Police Say”, Columbus Dispatch, May 25 1990.
- “Boy Cleared in Woman’s Death”, Columbus Dispatch, June 12 1990.
- “Serial Killer May Be Slaying Prostitutes”, Bryan Times, March 9 1991.
- “Investigators of 10 Killings to Meet”, Pittsburgh Press, March 19 1991.
- “Truck Driver May Have Killed Woman”, Columbus Dispatch, June 26 1991.
- “Police Look for Link in Prostitute’s Deaths”, Columbus Dispatch, August 15 1991.
- “Slain Woman Last Seen on Sunday Night”, Columbus Dispatch, August 16 1991.
- “Prostitute’s Death Ruled a Homicide”, Columbus Dispatch, September 13 1991.
- “8 Slayings Work of Serial Killer? Similarities in the Unsolved Deaths Arouse Police Concern”, Columbus Dispatch, May 30 1992.
- “New Suspect in Custody in String of Hooker Deaths”, Toledo Blade, August 28 1992.
- “Long Way to Go to Solve Truck Stop Slayings”, Tuscaloosa News, August 29 1992.
- “Suspect in Many Slayings; Ohio Trucker Held in Highway Killing”, Schenectady Daily Gazette, August 31 1992.
- “Witness Says Trucker Accused of Slaying Had Boasted of His Power over Women”, Beaver County Times, September 1 1992.
- “Christopher L. Gibson, 31, a Prisoner in Ross County Correctional Institution, Says He Saw Lonnie Spells with Prostitute Portia Mitchell Before She Was Killed”, Columbus Dispatch, September 13 1992.
- “Columbus Truck Driver Lonnie Spells Will Be Extradited to Tennessee to Face a Murder Charge in the Strangulation of Prostitute Geneva Davis, 26”, Columbus Dispatch, October 27 1992.
- “Police Seeking Tips in Prostitute’s Killing”, Columbus Dispatch, December 14 1992.
- “Self-Styled Ohio Serial Killer Gets 99 Years for Armed Robbery”, Bryan Times, December 3 1998.
- “Pushed or Jumped? Woman Killed on I-71 Came Out of Moving Vehicle”, Columbus Dispatch, August 30 2013.
- “I-71 Victim Was Fighter All Her Life, Dad Recalls”, Columbus Dispatch, September 2 2013.
- “Columbus Police Focus in on Sex Trade at Area Hotels”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, September 19 2013.
- “Defendant Hangs Himself Before Jury Gets Rape Case”, Columbus Dispatch, November 16 2013.
- “Slain Pregnant Mom Was Prostitute: Prosecutor”, Huffington Post, December 12 2013.
- “Ex-Ohio Doctor Sentencing in Pregnant Woman’s Death”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, December 20 2013.
- “Police Identify Woman who Died after Jumping to Escape Police”, CBS/WBNS-TV 10, June 12 2014.
State | Ohio |
Type | City |
Population | 747755 |
Location |
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