La Follette is a city of approximately 7,000 residents, located in Campbell County, in the North-Central portion of Tennessee, north of Knoxville and near the Interstate 75 corridor. Prostitution activity has been well-documented in the city, and generates numerous complaints to law enforcement agencies from residents and businesses. For example, in August 2018, the La Follette Police Department conducted a prostitution sting, in response to multiple complaints concerning high levels of solicitation for prostitution activity. The operation was conducted in the downtown area of La Follette.  Three women were arrested and transported to the Campbell County Jail, on charges including prostitution, possession of drug paraphernalia, and violation of the sex offender registry. At the time, the La Follette Police Department announced plans to continue to conduct these types of operations in the future. While this particular operation targeted women in prostitution, the department press release said that future operations would also target those soliciting the services of those in prostitution. A similar operation had been conducted in 2017.

To combat prostitution and sex trafficking in the area, local law enforcement agencies has occasionally targeted consumer-level demand for commercial sex, which provides the revenue stream driving all commercial sex and trafficking. In July, 2013, a reverse sting was conducted in downtown La Follette. Two months afterward, 10 of the 11 men charged with soliciting prostitution had pleaded guilty and received their punishments, and their identities were included in press releases. Among the punishments meted out were fines (between $300 and more than $1,000), and different combinations of short jail terms, suspended sentences pending fine payment, SOAP provisions (i.e., offender order to stay away from areas of the city known for street prostitution), and probation.  Example of sentences for individual sex buyers include:

• seven days in jail plus a six-month suspended sentence at 75 percent, and supervised probation until fine is paid
• 6-month suspended sentence pending paid fine; offender ordered by court not to visit north Tennessee or Indiana avenues
• 6-month suspended sentence, pending paid fine
• seven days in jail, plus a six-month suspended sentence at 75 percent
• seven days in jail plus a six-month suspended sentence at 75 percent, supervised probation pending fine