Cumberland is a community of approximately 19,000 residents, located in northwest Maryland near the Pennsylvania border in Allegany County. Prostitution activity has been well-documented in the city and surrounding communities, and throughout Allegany County. This activity and the problems and ancillary crimes it generates results in complaints to law enforcement agencies from residents and businesses. Among the more serious crimes associated with the local commercial sex market is sex trafficking.

Consumer level demand provides the revenue stream for all prostitution and sex trafficking, and has therefore been targeted by local law enforcement agencies as a strategy for prevention and response. For example, in June 2018, Cumberland Police announced the arrests of 14 people on charges relating to prostitution and human trafficking in the city’s downtown.  The arrests were made during an eight-week investigation that was centered in the Queen City Drive and Park Street areas and was launched in response to complaints from citizens, businesses and visitors concerning the solicitation of prostitution. Cumberland Police were assisted by the Allegany County Combined Criminal Investigation Unit and Hagerstown Police Department’s Directed Patrol Unit.  Nine of those were arrested for attempting to buy sex from an undercover police officer.  The buyers were charged with solicitation of prostitution, and their identities were included in press releases. In July, 2018 officers from the Cumberland Police Department arrested a man on a charge of general prostitution, after he had contacting an undercover police officer and agreed to give the officer money in exchange for a sexual act.  The suspect was arrested at a S. George Street location and was taken into custody, processed. and taken before the District Court Commissioner where he was released pending trial in District Court.