Failing at Putting an End to Sex for Sale on the Street

When we consider one of the many flawed systems that currently govern the way we do things, one fact in particular comes to mind.

The current legal system in Los Angeles California lacks effectiveness with regard to how the crime of public solicitation for sex is typically dealt with in reality, in spite of what the rules indicate.

The System and the Issues  

The current system in place is meant to apprehend, arrest, and prosecute offenders on either side of the unlawful act of solicitation. 

This crime falls under California Penal Code § 647(b), which makes it illegal to: Solicit prostitution, agree to engage in the act of prostitution, or actually engage in prostitution.

This statute actually applies to both the individual doing the offering of sexual services, as well as the individual seeking to purchase sexual services.

In other words: 

• Those soliciting to sell sex on the streets are committing a crime

• Those soliciting to buy sex on the streets are committing a crime

This is the basis of the laws surrounding illicit sexual acts, being offered and purchased on the Los Angeles streets, like the stretch of blocks referred to as the "Figueroa Corridor" in a local news report.

But make no mistake, the system is clearly flawed, as evident in the statistics that display obvious bias in how the laws outlined per the system are being enforced.

Female solicitation to sell sex stats

In recent years, according to FBI / UCR Data, notice the total prostitution-related arrests in California. 

2024 - Roughly 1,212 adult arrests were made for prostitution and what were labeled as commercialized vice offenses. This was actually down from 2023, which had around 3,067 adult prostitution-related arrests - making it the highest in the nation.

Male solicitation to buy sex stats

Now notice the contrast, based on the little known stats that are available, involving men soliciting to buy sex.

2024 - An undercover sting operation in Sacramento, resulted in the arrests of 27 men suspected of soliciting to buy sex. This number is nothing in comparison to the women arrested that same year.

Even the 2026 statewide sting operation referred to as "Stand on Demand " only resulted in slightly over one hundred arrests (120). 

These stats are only available due to the specific instances where law enforcement happened to have public reports about the arrests of buyers.

So while the operations show their efforts at arresting and publicizing any enforcement against buyers, they fail to provide standard annual totals concerning any gender tallies taken, like in the case of the female sex workers.

The Issue that Stands Out

There's no mistaking the over zealous prosecution of female offenders - who are often victims themselves, as was brought out in the story: When Will Men be Accountable for Buying Sex on the Streets? 

This disproportionate arrest and conviction of women over men, is often the result of the discretion of the officers on the scene.

For whatever reason, they seem more inclined to arrest the women, as opposed to the men.

Those who speculate suggest one reason may be that the women are less difficult to arrest, book, and prosecute.

Presumably, the arrests may tend to be less problematic for various reasons.

Many of the street walkers who get caught up in this system are repeat offenders who already know the drill that comes with being arrested and jailed.

They go through the motions in a matter-of-fact way, which may present less of a hassle for the officers.

Whatever the case, the system visibly treats the women involved much harsher than the men, and it does so much more often.

Notice the next section to get a better idea of just how unbalanced the system is, when being enforced against women, versus men.

Common Flaws Found with the System

In standard cases involving males arrested for the crime of soliciting to buy sex, the process is supposed to be the same as for women, barring any extenuating circumstances such as violence, force, or sex with a minor.

It's clear that statistics quoted earlier don't support this to be the situation in Los Angeles currently, and no doubt, the same applies to other cities as well.

Women Arrested for Solicitation

First we'll walk through the process from start to finish, as it applies to women offenders.

Arrests

Arrests are often the result of undercover sting operations, resulting in immediate detention and trips to jail.

Street walking types of publicly visible acts of solicitation on the part of the women, are also addressed via street-based enforcement activities by officers in black and white patrol cars.

The prevalence of these type of arrests potentially add to the officer's often demeaning attitude and treatment of some of the women, including claims of sexual assault committed by the policemen themselves.

Onlookers have observed cases where officers appeared to be amused during busts involving street walkers being rounded up and brought to the station.

Booking

Following a ride to the detention facility, fingerprints and mugshots are taken, and the arrest is entered into the criminal database.

Charges

The charges are typically filed as misdemeanors in varies states, California included. Once they're charged, a court date is scheduled.

Bail or Detention

The matter of whether or not a female is detained, is dependent on her ability to pay bail. If the bond is set, and the amount cannot be paid by the woman, she can count on a short jail visit prior to their day in court.

If this happens, whatever else she may have going on in her life is halted. Other areas will generally be affected. This could mean anything from missing work from a legitimate job, or a disruption in the care of any children.

Court Proceedings

When the court date arrives, it's not uncommon for these woman to agree to a plea bargain during the proceedings, as is typically recommended by their Public Defenders.

In more extreme cases, usually involving repeat offenders, there's the possibility of fines, probation, and a relatively short jail sentence.

Long-Term Consequences

One of the biggest long-term consequences that these women are known to be affected by is the fact that they now have a criminal record.

Even one offense has the potential to affect their future housing and employment situation and create lasting barriers for them.

With the stigma and burden of an arrest record for solicitation creating obstacles to housing and legitimate work, the women are vulnerable and more subject to repeat the cycle and return to solicitation.

Men (Johns) Arrested for Solicitation 

As we consider the system again and focus on the male side of unlawful solicitation for sex, notice how the process is clearly more lenient to the men offenders.

Arrest 

There's often no arrests, however, some jurisdictions will sometimes conduct sting operations targeting the male buyers.

Data on the subject does little to justify the explanations that merely state enforcement often prioritizes the sellers of sex on the street, rather than the targets.

This leaves us to assume that these agents of enforcement - starting with the officers on the scene - are making indiscriminate decisions on who to arrest and when. 

Statistics confirm that the decision to make an arrest involves the men offenders, far less than the women. 

Booking

When and if booking occurs, it's usually less publicized, and probably treated as less of an amusing bust by officers.

Diversion Programs

While no such notable diversion programs seem to be available to the "Hookers", some cities are known to have "John schools" and provide some type of educational program instead of conviction, to help with deterrence.

While this may be a lofty goal even if it doesn't always work, it still does little to address the need for some type of diversionary program aimed at helping women discontinue the act of soliciting for sex.

Charges or Dismissals

Men on the opposite side of the solicitation coin will tend to have the charges reduced or get a dismissal altogether.

Needless to say, first-time offenders are most known to get leniency.

If a diversion program is ordered, the charges will sometimes be dropped, once the offender completes the program.

Public Visibility

Just like in other jurisdictions and states, California's flawed system makes it so the men who buy sex on the street have a shorter and definitely a more insulated process, as they squeak their way through the system.

More than likely, you're more prone to see headlines that read:

"Recent prostitution sweep arrests 14 women."

The chances are slim of you reading a similar headline about men:

"Police sting arrest 14 men soliciting to purchase sex."

It's clear to see who the face of these type of crimes are - the women.

Unless force, minors, or some other illegal circumstances are involved, their offenses are rarely highlighted in media, and if they are, they're not publicly shamed in the same way as women charged with committing the act of selling.

Final Thoughts

The point of this story is to neither denounce or condone the issue of sex for sale on the streets, between consenting adults, apart from the obvious issue of visibility to children and others who shouldn't have to be subjected to it.

However, the information is necessary and very much needed, when a legal system already in place to address the overall problem, yet it makes little to no effort to adequately enforce both sides of the problematic issue.

While California lawmakers and politicians can justifiably debate about what the best solution to the situation should be, there is undeniably no justification for pretending the problem doesn't exist.

The current system for apprehending, arresting, and prosecuting male offenders for the unlawful act of solicitation is biased and misaligned.

As it stands, this system is flawed, not only because it fails to equally target male offenders who solicit to buy sex on the street, but also because with all their efforts to arrest and prosecute the women, little effort is exerted on attempts at deterrence, outside of prosecution.

Could it get more flawed than that?