Buyers of sex are increasingly becoming the target of law enforcement efforts to end prostitution and sex trafficking. Police recognize that sex buyers perpetuate a violent, exploitative industry. If no one were buying sex, pimps would not be supplying bars, back alleys, and websites with victims.
Under the leadership of Sherriff Dart, Cook County (IL) Sheriff’s Office has organized two “National Day of Johns Arrests.” The most recent sweep occurred over a 10 day period surrounding the 2012 Super Bowl, a time when sex trafficking was on the rise, as large sporting events increase demand for commercial sex. 20 law enforcement agencies (including the FBI) in eight different states came together for the operation, simultaneously conducting sting activities on the streets, in hotels, in brothels, via the internet, and elsewhere. A total of 359 sex buyers were arrested and charged with a possible $475,000 in fines. This sweep built on the momentum of the first “National Day of Johns Arrests,” which involved eight jurisdictions in six different states, arresting a total of 216 sex buyers that were charged with over $238,490 in possible fines. Combined, the two operations resulted in the arrests of 575 buyers of sex.
Public awareness around the operation was made possible by a grant from Demand Abolition. This includes the replication of more than 4,000 “Johns School” DVDs for distribution to law enforcement agencies nationwide. Produced by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, these DVDs provide an overview of content found in first offender prostitution programs, or “john schools.” As in the classes, the DVD aims to deter men from purchasing sex by educating them about the harms and consequences of prostitution on themselves, on the people they purchase, and on the community.
If you would like to receive a copy of the DVD, please contact Marian Hatcher, special projects assistant at CCSO.
Demand Abolition did not fund, nor was involved in, the logistics of the police operation in any of the jurisdictions.
Download the press release
PDF – 19k
October 2011
What Police Are Saying
“When I first started this job, I never thought that prostitution was what it was.”
–Undercover officer in Newport News, ABC 13 / WVEC
“The mission here is to reduce the opportunity for the John to engage in sex for hire through enforcement and education.”
–Undercover officer in Cincinnati, WCPO.com
“I was the one that believed that they were, again, in the mini skirts, and the high heels, and they were all really classy, and pretty and put together.”
–Undercover officer in Newport News, ABC 13 / WVEC
“The Johns get hit with a monetary fine and that’s the most bite we have right now with the jail situation.”
–Undercover officer in Cincinnati, WCPO.com
“We’re willing to do what we need to try to prevent these people from continuing the cycle.”
–Undercover officer in Cincinnati, ABC 13 / WVEC
