Why Bust Scary, Dangerous Criminals When You Can Go After Easy Targets In Their Undies?
The only problem is that arresting people making a living through prostitution doesn't lessen the actual dangerous elements in society one iota.
Elizabeth Nolan Brown writes at Reason that cops in Costa Mesa are "being very proactive in regard to prostitution enforcement," according to the chief there, Bryan Glass:
In 2015, Costa Mesa police arrested one person on prostitution-related charges. From January through April 2016, they arrested 69. Police say this is thanks to a conscious decision to refocus a special investigations unit away from busting gang leaders, career criminals, and drug dealers and toward people involved in the sex trade.
It's all about looking good for making arrests.
"The squad of about 10 officers has typically had a broad focus, taking on complex investigations including drugs busts, tracking career criminals and keeping tabs on gangs," police told the Los Angeles Times. After a series of prostitution stings earlier this year, the cops realized that focusing on prostitution "made the team's enforcement efforts immediately apparent, Glass said. A long-term drug investigation could eat up hours of work from a half-dozen detectives before police took a suspect into custody, he said."
Hey, here's a suggestion -- go on the playground and arrest kids for making threatening remarks.
And Nolan Brown is exactly right:
Just to recap: the only reason sex workers and drug users need warrant excessive police intervention is because we have unnecessarily criminalized these people.
There is not a reason in the world why selling your body shouldn't be your right (as a consenting adult -- to another adult)...save for how arresting you for it provides such wonderful stats for cops. Understandably, they'd much rather take down people earning a living with their sexparts than with guns and knives (violent!) or through financial crimes like bank fraud (too complicated!).
the cops realized that focusing on prostitution "made the team's enforcement efforts immediately apparent, Glass said. A long-term drug investigation could eat up hours of work from a half-dozen detectives before police took a suspect into custody, he said."
I have only had a half a cup of coffee this morning, but I think I'm reading this correctly. They're going after prostitution because it's easier and they don't have to wait so long for the pay-off?
sara at June 17, 2016 6:12 AM
It sounds like they're saying they went after a prostitution bust because they could show the public results right away. Whereas a drug bust takes time to build a case and they can't show the public results for several weeks.
The public immediately sees results of funding a police department, whereas with a drug bust, the public may wonder what it's getting for its money from funding a police department while the police are building their case and conducting their investigation.
If they've got a city councilman tying to cut police funding, having an immediate and public bust gives them a case that their budget should not be cut.
Conan the Grammarian at June 17, 2016 7:38 AM
Not to mention that prostitution convictions go through the court system without a fight. A plea bargain is reached, a fine is paid and time served. A drug arrest gets way more complicated.
Fayd at June 17, 2016 8:35 AM
Hah! One of the reasons I miss Costa Mesa..the awful police
Look what happened was there was a giant prostitution ring out in the open in the posh side of Costa Mesa. "Massage parlours" The richie rich were super pissed because it was really really obvious. Plus such Vietnamese hookering should only be happening in Westminster/Garden Grove...not in Costa Mesa.
It was humiliating to the police when it came out. Like they were super embarassed. Because it was fucking obvious it was a prostitution front and they had been too lazy to do anything about it despite massive amount of complaints.
Ever since then Costa Mesa is over zealous about hookers. This was years and years ago.
Santa Ana police (their neighbors) dgaf about hookers constantly throwing mass amounts of used condoms and needles in peoples lawns. However your ass will get stopped if they suspect you might possibly drive badly.
ppen at June 17, 2016 9:35 AM
Well I've got to admit I'd rather stop 'n frisk a sweet 16 teen than a 16 year old hood.
Bob in Texas at June 17, 2016 11:20 AM
Well I've got to admit I'd rather stop 'n frisk a sweet 16 teen than a 16 year old hood.
Hmmm...#BlackHosMatter ?
Too soon?
I R A Darth Aggie at June 17, 2016 11:52 AM
Just to recap: the only reason sex workers and drug users need warrant excessive police intervention is because we have unnecessarily criminalized these people.
I wouldn't want my sister to be a fundamentalist Baptist preacher -- the kind who rails against gays & lesbians (like, for example, this guy) as well as other perceived "sins" -- but that doesn't mean I believe we should criminalize fundamentalist Baptist preaching, arresting not only the preachers but people who patronize their churches.
JD at June 18, 2016 10:56 AM
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