Visalia, CA
Categories:
Tactics Used |
|
---|---|
Reverse stings | ✓ |
Shaming | ✓ |
Auto seizure | ✓ |
Community service | ✓ |
Public education | ✓ |
Neighborhood action | ✓ |
SOAP orders | ✓ |
John school | ✓ |
Letters | ✓ |
Cameras | ✓ |
Web stings | ✓ |
License suspension | ✓ |
Visalia is a city in the agricultural San Joaquin Valley of California, and has a population of roughly 120,000. Prostitution and sex trafficking have been identified by law enforcement as a problem in the city. Residents have complained to police about prostitution in certain neighborhoods, and in response to their numerous concerns, since 1988 police have targeted consumer-level demand for commercial sex. The Visalia Police Department has conducted street-level and web-based reverse stings, and released the identities of the men arrested. For example, in February, 2019 detectives with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with investigators from the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office, Visalia Police Department, Tulare County Human Trafficking Task Force and Madera County Sheriff’s Office, conducted two undercover operations. Detectives set up fictitious advertisements on known prostitution sites and searched the dark web for potential human trafficking victims. Nearly 40 men contacted the decoy, and four were arrested after appearing at arranged locations and solicited the undercover officer. During this operation, detectives also tried to find and rescue human trafficking victims on the dark web. Detectives rescued two adult females, one of which was believed to be a human trafficking victim who through force, fear and/or coercion was trafficked for sex. Personnel with Tulare County Family Services responded to the scene and provided the victims with help.
Key Partners
- Merced Police Department
- Visalia Police Department
- Tulare County Sheriff’s Department
Key Sources
- Web-Based Reverse Stings and Shaming:
- “Fresno Police Officer Arrested in Prostitution Sting”, FOX/KMPH-TV 26, June 15 2010.
- “In Brief; Police; Fresno Officer Held in Prostitution Sting”, Fresno Bee, June 15 2010.
- “Two Porterville Residents among 13 Arrested in Prostitution Sting”, Porterville Recorder, June 15 2010.
- https://tularecounty.ca.gov/sheriff/news-releases/four-men-busted-during-prostitution-pimping-sting/ (2019)
- Sex Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation in the Area:
- “Visalia Sex Trafficking Suspect Arrested”, Visalia Times-Delta, August 7 2014.
- “No Word on Charges for Teen ‘Pimp’ in Prostitution Case,” Visalia Times-Delta, January 29 2016.
- https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/sex-trafficking-victim-rescued-tulare-county-law-enforcement (2019)
- https://tularecounty.ca.gov/sheriff/news-releases/four-men-busted-during-prostitution-pimping-sting/ (2019)
- Background on Prostitution in the Area:
- “Limits on Sex Stores Get OK; Visalia Ordinance Proposal Goes to the City Council Next”, Fresno Bee, May 14 1999.
- “Massage Parlor Worker Sentenced for Solicitation”, Porterville Recorder, May 3 2012.
State | California |
Type | City |
Population | 118603 |
Location |
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