Madison, WI
Categories:
Tactics Used |
|
---|---|
Reverse stings | ✓ |
Shaming | ✓ |
Auto seizure | ✓ |
Community service | ✓ |
Public education | ✓ |
Neighborhood action | ✓ |
SOAP orders | ✓ |
John school | ✓ |
Letters | ✓ |
Cameras | ✓ |
Web stings | ✓ |
License suspension | ✓ |
Madison is a city of over 200,000 residents in southern Wisconsin that has had visible prostitution problems for well over a century. Problems associated with commercial sex include the murder of at johns. Recently, the city has experienced internet-based prostitution, and has had sex trafficking and child sex trafficking networks operating locally, but prostitution in Madison can be traced back to the frontier era before Wisconsin statehood. Throughout, commercial sex has triggering numerous complaints to police. In the early 1970s, massage parlors expanded in the area. By 1976, Madison had 42 massage/escort services (Rath, 2013), and community groups began pressuring the city government. The resulting increase in enforcement directed toward the sellers of sex increased city enforcement pushed prostitutes to outlying hotels and truck stops. County enforcement pushed them back downtown. “It was like the Whack-a-Mole game,” says MaryAnne Thurber, a retired Madison police officer who worked sting operations as part of the city’s war on prostitution in the late 1970s and early ’80s. “There was no eradication. It was just redistribution.” (Rath, 2013).
In more recent years, sex trafficking continues to be a persistent problem. The director of Madison’s Project Respect reported in March, 2014 that she encounters between 50 and 75 cases a year involving force, fraud or coercion. In July, 2019, a Madison man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for sex trafficking in Madison. Evidence presented at trial established that between 2015 and 2017, the man had engaged in sex trafficking by force, coercion and fraud, and transported individuals across state lines to engage in prostitution. The trafficking was uncovered in 2017, when a victim at a Madison hotel ran from her room bleeding and hid behind the front desk, and the hotel clerk called police. The victim told a nurse at a Madison hospital that the trafficker strangled her to the point of unconsciousness when she told him she wanted to leave.
Seeing no benefit in attacking “supply,” in 1983 police began combating “demand” by conducting reverse stings, and a new city ordinance afforded easier prosecution. Through the present, various agencies and organizations in Madison have targeted the demand for commercial sex in their efforts to reduce the prevalence and impact of prostitution and sex trafficking in the city. A number of tactics have been used, including public education/awareness efforts, reverse stings, shaming, sending “dear john” letters to the homes of alleged sex buyers, and a john school program for men arrested for buying sex. Much of the police attention to prostitution is driven by community member complaints.
John Schools
Madison has a one-day john school program. Media reports make reference to a john school session held in Madison in 2005, attended by eight men. Most other sources point to 2008 as the year that the program was implemented. It is possible that in 2005 a pilot program was implemented, or that a john school was started but was not sustained. In any event, most reports suggest that a john school was being considered by police and other stakeholders in 2007, and sessions of the still ongoing program were held in 2008 – if not before. A 2008 “Weed & Seed” program report included the following description of the john school:
The Community Coordinated Response to Prostitution (the prostitution workgroup) continues to meet and evaluate the success of their initiatives: the Badger Wellness Workshop and The JOHN (Joining and Organizing Healthy Neighborhoods) School. Badger Wellness Workshop subcommittee has planned an expansion of services with support from the Emerging Neighborhood funds, and they are working with neighborhood residents to identify high “traffic” areas so that they can more effectively target their outreach for the Saturday evening activities. The JOHN school was held on May 21st with 9 participants. They class included information about the health risks involved with soliciting prostitutes, personal statements of former prostitutes, and a session about male culture and the relationship between male identify and prostitution. Initial feedback from the participants looks promising.
In the current john school program, men arrested in reverse stings are provided the option of attending the 3-hour class. The program stresses one major point; prostitution and pandering are not victimless crimes. The men are provided presentations on the legal and health risks of prostitution, and hear formerly exploited women speak about negative impacts of commercial sex for “providers.”
Madison’s john school began operating in 2010. RESPECT Project on Prostitution, a nonprofit organization providing services for sexually exploited people, is a leader of the program. The Madison Police Department participate, as part of their Community Coordinated Response to Prostitution (CCR-P) program. The City Attorney’s Office is the other primary partner: The john school is structured as a diversion program; If they do attend the program, they can have the charge kept off their records.
The John School is just one part of a response to a local surge in prostitution, intended to prevent sexual exploitation and prostitution by addressing both the demand side of the issue as well as the supply side.
Shaming
While identities of arrested sex buyers have been released to the media, Police have discussed a more proactive “shaming” effort including posting offenders’ photographs in a “John Hall of Shame” on the police department’s Web site.
Community Service:
Madison police conducted a reverse sting on the 1100 hundred block of Badger Road at Catalpa Road, using undercover police officers posing as prostitutes, and cited thirteen men. The citation carries a fine of nearly $700. The people who were cited in the sting were given an opportunity to avoid paying fines by staying crime free for at least six months, doing community service and attending the john school.
Key Partners
- Madison Police Department
- Respect Project on Prostitution
- Madison City Attorney’s Office
- Truckers Against Trafficking
Key Sources
- Street-Level Reverse Stings (with Shaming since at least 1991):
- “Madison Police Decoy Is Busy,” Milwaukee Journal, August 2 1980.
- “6 Arrested on Sex Solicitation Charges,” Wisconsin State Journal, June 24 1989.
- “Seven Men Arrested for Soliciting,” Wisconsin State Journal, January 14 1990.
- “9 Men Arrested in Prostitution ‘Sting,'” Wisconsin State Journal, June 3 1990.
- “12 Men Arrested for Prostitution, Capital Square Incidents Up,” Madison Capital Times, August 9 1991.
- “Prostitution Suspect Rams Officer with Car,” Madison Capital Times, June 26 1992.
- “Officers Hurt in Prostitution Arrests,” Wisconsin State Journal, June 27 1992.
- “7 Men Arrested for Solicitation,” Wisconsin State Journal, July 30 1993.
- “Prostitution Sting Nabs 5 Men,” Madison Capital Times, June 11 1994.
- “Sting Nabs Five for Soliciting,” Wisconsin State Journal, August 7 1994.
- “Man Who Fled Police Gets New Trial,” Madison Capital Times, January 13 1995.
- “Fines Hefty for Soliciting a Prostitute,” Wisconsin State Journal, September 7 1997.
- “Prostitution Sting Nabs 8; Police Decoys Work Problem Area near Adult Bookstore,” Wisconsin State Journal, September 7 1997.
- “Sting to Catch ‘Johns’ Nets ‘Other Stuff,’ Too,” Wisconsin State Journal, September 12 1998.
- “Six Men Arrested in Prostitution Sting,” Wisconsin State Journal, September 13 1999.
- “Seven Arrested in South Side Prostitution Sting,” Wisconsin State Journal, August 9 2001.
- “7 Arrested in South Side Prostitution Sting,” Wisconsin State Journal, November 14 2003.
- “Police Work Sting in Badger Road Area,” Wisconsin State Journal, June 28 2006.
- “20 Men Accused of Soliciting Sex,” Wisconsin State Journal, August 8 2006.
- “Prostitutes and Johns Are on Cops’ Radar, Explosion of Illegal Activity along One Section of Badger Road Prompts a Sting Operation,” Wisconsin State Journal, December 2 2007.
- “10 Males Arrested in Prostitution Sting,” Wisconsin State Journal, March 29 2008.
- “Police Catch 8 in Prostitution Sting,” Wisconsin State Journal, August 9 2008.
- “13 Males Arrested in Prostitution Sting,” Wisconsin State Journal, September 20 2008.
- “7 Men Ticked in Allied Drive Prostitution Sting,” Wisconsin State Journal, October 1 2008.
- Web-Based Reverse Stings:
- “Johns Caught in Their Own Web, Police Turned an Online Ad Forum for Customers of Prostitutes against Its Users in an 8-Month Operation that Led to 57 Arrests,” Wisconsin State Journal, February 18 2010.
- “Madison Police Use Online Chats in Prostitution Crackdown,” Wisconsin State-Journal, February 18 2010.
- John School, Community service:
- Anti-Cruising Ordinance Targeting Sex Buyers:
- “Rule Aimed at Curbing Prostitution,” Wisconsin State Journal, September 30 1989.
- “New Ordinance Aims at ‘Johns.'” Wisconsin State Journal, May 4 1993.
- Neighborhood Action:
- “Neighbors Fight Back against City Prostitution,” Madison Capital Times, August 20 1994.
- “Neighbors Weed out Prostitutes; East Siders Meet to Devise Plans,” Wisconsin State Journal, August 23 1994.
- “Area Pushes Curb to Prostitution; Area Presses Prostitution Fight,” Madison Capital Times, November 11 1994.
- “Anti-Prostitution Alert; Madison Neighborhood Sends Letters to ‘Johns,'” Madison Capital Times, April 17 1995.
- Public Education:
- Sex Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation in the Area:
- “Young Girls, 15-20, Said Forced into Prostitution in Madison Sauna Bath,” Minneapolis Star-News, January 18 1972.
- “Madison Prostitute Tells Court of Beating,” Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, June 6 1972.
- “Sauna Man Convicted of 11 Counts,” Milwaukee Sentinel, June 14 1972.
- “Man Convicted in Prostitution Case,” Milwaukee Sentinel, March 30 1979.
- “2 Charged with Turning Teens into Prostitutes,” Madison Capital Times, March 20 1991.
- “Former Lawmaker, 7 Others Charged in Sex with Girl, 14,” Wisconsin State Journal, March 23 1991.
- “13th Man Faces Teen Sex Count, Girls, 14, Involved in Monthlong Spree,” Wisconsin State Journal, March 26 1991.
- “Teens Detail Paid Sex Encounters, Two Runaways, 14, Testify about Paid Sex Encounters,” Madison Capital Times, March 29 1991.
- “Child Prostitution Ring Suspect Found in Illinois,” Madison Capital Times, April 24 1991.
- “5 Men Arrested in Rape of Girl, 15,” Wisconsin State Journal, June 16 1991.
- “Woman Convicted of Sexual Assault to Minor,” Wisconsin State Journal, October 22 1991.
- “Prostitution Backer Gets 12 Years,” Wisconsin State Journal, January 9 1992.
- “Man Gets Jail in Teen Prostitution Case,” Madison Capital Times, January 23 1992.
- “Man Guilty of Sex Assault,” Madison Capital Times, February 24 1992.
- “Mother Charged in Child Sex Case,” Wisconsin State Journal, April 10 1992.
- “Innocent Plea in Prostitution Case,” Wisconsin State Journal, May 27 1992.
- “2 Charged in Sex for Coke Case,” Madison Capital Times, October 7 1992.
- “Madison Man Charged with Child Enticement,” Wisconsin State Journal, February 28 1996.
- “Man, 27, Charged with Trying to Solicit Boy for Prostitution,” Wisconsin State Journal, September 20 1996.
- “Girl, 17, Arrested in Sex Case,” Madison Capital Times, August 26 1997.
- “Alleged Partner Charged in Teen Prostitution Case,” Wisconsin State Journal, August 29 1997.
- “Men to Be Tried for Allegedly Hiring Juvenile for Sex Acts,” Wisconsin State Journal, October 14 1997.
- “Man Caught in Escort Sting Is Convicted,” Wisconsin State Journal, March 17 1998.
- “Madison Man Gets 10 Months for Soliciting Child for Sex,” Wisconsin State Journal, May 20 1998.
- “‘Stooge’ Sentenced in Teenage Sex Ring,” Madison Capital Times, May 20 1998.
- “Man Ordered to Stand Trial on Child-Prostitution Charge,” Wisconsin State Journal, April 3 1999.
- “Man Gets Eight Years in Prostitution Ruling,” Wisconsin State Journal, October 14 1999.
- “Streetwise in Madison: Adults Often Take Advantage of Homeless Teens and Runaways”, Madison Isthmus, February 27 2009.
- “Police Seeking Man in Child Prostitution Case,” Wisconsin State Journal, June 27 2009.
- “‘Country Cane’ Charged with Child Trafficking,” Wisconsin State Journal, June 28 2009.
- “Madison Woman Convicted of Pimping/Pandering and Multiple Other Crimes,” States News Service, October 18 2012.
- “Madison Woman Convicted of Coercing Learning-Disabled Teen into Prostitution”, Wisconsin State-Journal, October 19 2012.
- “Dane Co. Officials Raise Awareness About Sex Trafficking”, ABC/WKOW-TV 27, January 10 2013.
- “Milwaukee Man Charged with Sex-Trafficking a Minor from Wisconsin to Illinois to Engage in Prostitution,” States News Service, September 17 2013.
- “Man Sentenced for Offering Teen Money for Sex,” Wisconsin State Journal, November 28 2013.
- https://www.wisconsingazette.com/wisconsin-lawmakers-combat-state-s-growing-human-trafficking-problem (2014)
- “Madison Man Convicted of Human Trafficking, Supplying Heroin to Underage Victims,” States News Service, January 30 2015.
- “Lodi Man Indicted on Sex Trafficking Crimes,” Wisconsin State Journal, January 20 2016.
- https://www.channel3000.com/madison-man-sentenced-to-25-years-for-sex-trafficking (2019)
- Background on Prostitution in the Area:
- “Increase in Prostitution a Problem for Madison,” Milwaukee Sentinel, June 17 1980.
- “Focus Is on Arrest of Men,” Milwaukee Sentinel, December 7 1981.
- “Pruning Roots of Prostitution,” Milwaukee Journal, August 18 1989.
- “Police Clean up Downtown; Prostitution Serious Problem in 1970s, ’80s,” Wisconsin State Journal, April 17 1995.
- “Prostitution on the Wane,” Madison Capital Times, October 13 1995.
- “Prostitution Reports Double This Year in City,” Madison Capital Times, November 2 1999.
- “South Side Arrests Part of Crackdown on Drugs, Prostitution,” Wisconsin State Journal, May 7 2001.
- “Madison Has Jurisdiction to Prosecute Prostitution Advertisements Online,” Wisconsin State Journal, April 22 2010.
- “Sex for Sale,” Madison Isthmus, August 6 2010.
- “Police Search Massage Parlor Officials Investigating Possible Prostitution at Madison Business,” Wisconsin State Journal, October 21 2010.
- “When Sex Ruled the Square,” Madison Isthmus, November 1 2013.
- Documented Violence against Individuals Engaged in Prostitution in the Area:
- “Man Pleads No Contest to Rape, Beating Charges,” Madison Capital Times, August 21 1989.
- “Prostitution Suspect Rams Officer with Car,” Madison Capital Times, June 26 1992.
- “Officers Hurt in Prostitution Arrests,” Wisconsin State Journal, June 27 1992.
- “Man Who Fled Police Gets New Trial,” Madison Capital Times, January 13 1995.
- “Trial in Rape Case Begins, Man Also Accused of Beating Woman,” Madison Capital Times, October 31 2001.
- “Rape/Beating Trial Produces Starkly Differing Accounts,” Madison Capital Times, November 1 2001.
- “Close Encounter Ends in Road Rage, Alleged Hooker Fled with Cash,” Madison Capital Times, August 2 2007.
- “Man Accused of Badger Rd. Rape, Could Get Life Sentence,” Madison Capital Times, August 21 2007.
- “Prostitutes and Johns Are on Cops’ Radar, Explosion of Illegal Activity along One Section of Badger Road Prompts a Sting Operation,” Wisconsin State Journal, December 2 2007.
State | Wisconsin |
Type | City |
Population | 228775 |
Location |
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