South Hill is a town of approximately 4,7000 residents within Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Prostitution activity has been documented within the county, and the problems and ancillary crimes it generates results in complaints to law enforcement agencies from residents and businesses. For example, in August, 2006, Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office officials arrested two women on prostitution-related charges at a building that many locals have long complained served an illegal brothel in Bracey, about 5 miles from South Hill. The arrests at 3230 Highway 903 followed a month of investigation by the Virginia State Police, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.  Both suspects were charged with the felony of knowingly receiving money or some other valuable thing from the earnings of a person engaged in prostitution and a misdemeanor charge of prostitution, and other charges were pending.

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.  A South Hill Police Department respondent to the 2021 National Assessment Survey reported that demand reduction tactics have been implemented in the town, including public education (since 2016), and community service for arrested sex buyers.