Stickney is a village in Cook County, Illinois with a population of approximately 7,000. Prostitution activity has been well-documented in the city and surrounding communities, and in unincorporated areas of the 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. The Cook County Sheriff’s Department has investigated cases of sex trafficking throughout the county, including at least one occurring the Stickney/Cicero area.

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. In response to community complaints about prostitution activity in multiple neighborhoods, the Stickney Police Department has collaborated with officers from neighboring Cicero to apprehend sex buyers.  For example, in July 2000, a joint reverse sting operation lasted just over two days, and resulted in the arrest of 36 male sex buyers in Stickney.  Police placed several female officers undercover as decoys. As men attempted to solicit sex from the officers, they were apprehended by police. The offenders’ identities were not released to the public.