In 2016 a “john school” program for convicted sex buyers was established. The “Not Buying It” Demand Reduction School began offering classes in January of that year. The program is provided by the Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center, and classes are held periodically at the Waite Park Police Department Training Room. The class must be completed as a condition of a sentence (and is not an optional diversion program that can lead to dropped charges). The one-day program features seven hours of instruction on topics including:

• Negative consequences of the sex industry.
• Survivors discussing the impact of offenders’ exploitation.
• Attitudes, behaviors, and social forces that lay the foundation for abuse and exploitation.
• Addiction.
• Pornography.
• Health concerns.
• Legal and criminal consequences of solicitation.
• Recognizing and interrupting their individual thought and decision-making process to prevent re-offense (relapse prevention).

The class cost is $750, payable at the beginning of class. That money goes directly to victims and victim services. That’s in addition to any fines, penalties or jail time they may face for their crime. The extra fee is purposeful. If the buyers don’t get anything out of the class, at least some of their money goes to help victims of sex trafficking.

If needed, participants must arrange to provide their own certified interpreter. Certificates of completion are provided after successful participation at the end of the class, and participants are responsible for providing that proof of completion to their probation officers.