West Hartford is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, about 5 miles west of downtown Hartford. Its population was roughly 63,000 as of the 2020 census. Prostitution and sex trafficking have been well-documented problems in the city for years.  For example, in May, 2015, West Hartford police investigated a 27-year-old Hartford woman accused of trying to sell a 15-year-old teen for sexual abuse. She was accused of bringing a 15-year-old girl with her “to act as a prostitute” in response to an undercover juvenile prostitution sting at 103 Raymond Road, where they made the arrest. She was charged on a warrant with trafficking of persons, prostitution, first-degree promoting prostitution, risk of injury and or impairing morals, and employing a minor into an obscene performance. She was released on a $25,000 bond.

To address these and other problems associated with the local illicit sex trade, consumer level demand has been targeted.  For example, in March, 2015, three people were arrested, including a male sex buyer, after they were caught having sex in a car in the parking lot of Conard High School.  The man was charged with patronizing a prostitute, a misdemeanor, and he was released after posting a $2,500 non-surety bond. Also arrested was a woman who was charged with prostitution. She was also released after posting at $2,500 bond. The third person was serving as a pimp, and admitted that he had driven the woman to the area so she provide sexual acts for a the sex buyer, a Certified Nurse’s Aide who was providing care for an elderly male at the house where the prostitution occurred.