Police Crack Down on Craigslist Sex Industry
You can find lots and lots of things for sale on Craigslist.org -- everything from electronics to used mattresses. You can also find people offering sex for money, a form of digitally arranged prostitution that police are just now beginning to crack down on. Officers around the country are not only pursuing the people that are offering sex services, they're also taking a page from Dateline's 'To Catch a Predator' series and setting up fake Craigslist ads to catch the guys who solicit sex workers.
And just as Craigslist makes it easy to find nearly anything you could ever want, it's also made it easier for police to catch these "Johns." Police statistics are showing that they're now arresting more prostitutes and would-be Johns via Craigslist than they are through traditional stings. For example, Cook County, Illinois, sheriffs department raids this past July nabbed 43 streetwalkers and 60 Craigslist posters. A single ad in Jacksonville, Florida, netted 33 Johns while another in Seattle grabbed 71.
For his part, Craigslist president Jim Buckmaster says there's not much the company's staff of 20 can do to police these ads, while Craigslist founder Craig Newmark did not comment. So, for now it seems the sex industry will continue to flourish in the land of Craig, arrests and all.
From New York Times
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gary Vocks @ Sep 5th 2007 4:18PM
What a waste of tax dollars for the cops to spend their time and resources busting consenting adults for sex--even if it is for pay!
Philip Richards @ Nov 21st 2007 5:30AM
Prostitution is reportedly the 'oldest business'
in the world. As long as there are live human beings there will always be adults who seek sex for pay. In my opinion, what an individual does in private is nobody else's business. Police should have NO authority to invade a private,
personal meeting ! ! ! ! !
THE JUDGE...
RICH SANTANA @ Nov 21st 2007 2:59PM
PROSTITUTION SHOULD BECOME LEGAL-ITS A CONSENT SEX BETWEEN 2 ADULTS , IN LAS VEGAS THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT TO HIV TESTS AND AND SOME PARTS IN EUROPE TOO! In the Netherland the crime rate is very low compare to U.S.A AND PROSTITUTION IS LEGAL-THE PROSTITUTES. COPS SHOULD FOCUS ON MURDERS, KIDNAPPING , CHILD PREDATORS.SEX IS SEX ITS PLEASURE. BUT IF IT BECOMES LEGAL I AM FOR SAFE SEX AND ADVOCATE TO HIV AND OTHER VENERIAL DESEASES AND USE OF CONDOMS BY JOHNS AND ALL UNDER THE LAW AND SIGN IN AGREEMENTS-PARALEGAL STUDENT-RICH SANTAN
AND BY THE WAY I HAVE A SUGAR DADDY 4 MILLION DOLLARS ASETT GENTLEMEN AND TREATS ME VERY VERY ELL- A PROUD MALE PROSTITUTE THAT IS STUDYING PARALEGAL TO WORK FOR A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER-MY GOAL! PLEASE HAVE SAFE SEX AND USE CONDOMS!!
Lori Lamb @ Nov 21st 2007 4:33PM
GOOD! It's about time these whores were taken off the streets and off line. Since when is it okay to offer sex for "250 Roses" and the cops don't take that as selling your ass? Roses my sweet white heiney! These broads need to be locked up and so do the fools who buy their services.
Jason Browne @ Nov 21st 2007 4:41PM
I think its disgusting that the states and federal goverment would waste taxe dollars on this! We are fightting two wars right now and this is there main concern? And i would bet these crooekd politicans are the biggest users of craigslist erotic services section. Hypocrisy at its best my fellow americans
Athena Jones @ Nov 21st 2007 4:56PM
Yes i am outraged at this response from our LE department on providers using cragslist. First of all ok there are many many many escorts services in phone book all around the world . Why are they not going after them? What is the difference? We as providers need to make there jobs more difficult PROVIDERS . They have already stated there first preference is craigs because the bust is easy for them to do. So providers higher your standards with your clients and make these mo fo's work to get you if they want you. Second I am an upscale provider myself ok. I am upscale clean discreet d/d free. Catering to upscale gentlemen to provide for my family. No body else is providing for my family but these clients that I cater to. So I respect them there privacy and assure there discretion. Providers that means staying away from drama drugs violence and ladies as an independent provider myself stay away from pimps. They will create this chaos and attract uncle leo for sure. Plus two consenting adults together should not be a problem. I consent myself to no sex acts. My donation is for my time and compaionship ONLY. NOTHING ELSE. And why in the hell isnt law enforcement out fighting real crime ok. Shootings drug dealers the molesters that are hurting and voliating our children etc etc . You see busting us is not dangerous and not a lot of work. So make them work for it . Us upscale providers need a system network to pull togther and look out for each other. We as provider need to continue (and always will) provide our upstanding gentlemen clients with our quality service that they deserve . By discretion and anything that will attract leo that has nothing better to do but SIT ON HIS ASSS. Signed PISSED OFFF
kdanchisen @ Nov 21st 2007 5:30PM
THIS IS RIDICULOUS! waste of the egregious tax dollars. Land Of The Free??? NOT! online gambling...illegal. sex between consenting adults...outlawed. freedom to spend ones money (after a HUGE tax hit) anyway one pleases...non-existent. freedom of speech...silenced. the USA is no longer the Land of the Free, but rather a Big Brother state. think about how absurd all this is...
ted blackington @ Nov 21st 2007 6:50PM
This is a waste of taxpayer money. It joins the disgusting practice of dressing up policewomen as prostitutes to catch the men who solict them! No wonder the American public has no confidence in the justice system any more.I guess it is easier to catch agreeing adults than to catch rapists.
Linda G. @ Nov 21st 2007 7:50PM
The ad in the article reads No F/S that means no sex.(Full Service)
Waste of tax payers money.
Athena Jones @ Nov 24th 2007 1:14PM
Yes i am outraged at this response from our LE department on providers using cragslist. First of all ok there are many many many escorts services in phone book all around the world . Why are they not going after them? What is the difference? We as providers need to make there jobs more difficult PROVIDERS . They have already stated there first preference is craigs because the bust is easy for them to do. So providers higher your standards with your clients and make these mo fo's work to get you if they want you. Second I am an upscale provider myself ok. I am upscale clean discreet d/d free. Catering to upscale gentlemen to provide for my family. No body else is providing for my family but these clients that I cater to. So I respect them there privacy and assure there discretion. Providers that means staying away from drama drugs violence and ladies as an independent provider myself stay away from pimps. They will create this chaos and attract uncle leo for sure. Plus two consenting adults together should not be a problem. I consent myself to no sex acts. My donation is for my time and compaionship ONLY. NOTHING ELSE. And why in the hell isnt law enforcement out fighting real crime ok. Shootings drug dealers the molesters that are hurting and voliating our children etc etc . You see busting us is not dangerous and not a lot of work. So make them work for it . Us upscale providers need a system network to pull togther and look out for each other. We as provider need to continue (and always will) provide our upstanding gentlemen clients with our quality service that they deserve . By discretion and anything that will attract leo that has nothing better to do but SIT ON HIS ASSS. Signed PISSED OFFF
Scott Small @ Apr 7th 2008 2:38PM
Lori Lamb: Why do you think prostitutes and their customers should be locked up? If you don't like dealing with those people, you surely don't have to. But why should a society punish a person with a service to sell or a person who wants to pay for it in a private transaction? And if your only objection is that a law is being broken, it's not like all laws are fair or just. Bad laws need to be changed ... it used to be legal to hit women or two own slaves.
matt @ Apr 7th 2008 2:58PM
Lori Lamb: How is it your business what these mature adults do with their lives? What they do doesn't affect you so you shoul F-CK off you loser
CelluliteQueen.com @ Apr 7th 2008 4:18PM
Move to Nevada... prostitution is legal there!!
www.CelluliteQueen.com
Teach2 @ Apr 7th 2008 6:10PM
Prostitution should be legal. It cannot be prevented. The government should make laws requiring safe sex and monitoring for STDs and AIDS.At least that will protect the innocent wives who get the illnesses but have none of the fun This industry should also be taxed BIG TIME.
BAMA @ Apr 7th 2008 6:39PM
REMEMBER DEOMOCRACY?
KINDA NICE, WASN'T IT?
Todd @ Apr 8th 2008 3:23PM
Ok .. so I take a woman out to eat, then to the movies, then for a night cap ....hopefull it would end up back at my place for a little one on one action and of course i paid for the whole night....WHAT the hell is the differance. At least if i give a woman 50 bucks and i get some we are both happy ...rather than paying for all that crap just to end up with my cok in my hand ......
Ray @ Apr 8th 2008 4:50PM
I'm glad that the people that frequent these sites and any other establishments that have this kind of entertainment have a place to go. Better that they have an out let then be preying on someones child on the street or someones wife in a mall parking lot.
Mr. T @ Apr 8th 2008 5:47PM
They aren't paying for the sex. They are paying for her to go home afterward. Otherwise it's just a date.
pipelayer413 @ Apr 8th 2008 7:20PM
down here in daytona beach they arrested 7 hookers off craigs list..one hooker showed up with her husband and kids in the car..mommy turns tricks while they wait in the car..good role model huh..they watched mommy hauled off to jail..whats this world coming too..billary clinton trying to become president these are the people voting for her..
Dave @ Apr 9th 2008 11:02AM
Vote Libertarian and this type of nonsense wouldn't exist.
To the government I say "Stay out of my bedroom, my boardroom and my bloodstream".