Lansing is the capital of Michigan. It is the state’s fifth-largest city, with approximately 113,000 residents. For decades, community members have complained about commercial sex and related crimes in the city – including sex trafficking – with the majority of activities often clustered around the Kalamazoo Street corridor.

To address these issues, the Lansing Police Department has conducted a series of street-level reverse stings to apprehend sex buyers. Operations typically employ the use of an undercover woman officer, serving as a decoy. As sex buyers solicit sex from her, they are promptly arrested. Police may seize the vehicles of arrestees, and have at times imposed mandatory community service on and apology “essays” from convicted sex buyers.

Though reports of the public disclosure of arrested sex buyer identities remain limited, on at least one occasion an individual charged with soliciting prostitution has had his identity publicized in press. In March 2016, a local prosecutor was charged with “using the services of prostitutes — a 93-day misdemeanor — in Ingham, Clinton and Ionia counties hundreds of times between 2010 and 2015… enticing a woman to become a prostitute, a 20-year felony — and willful neglect of duty.” The offender’s name, place of employment, and photo was released to the public.