American DA's offer Escorts Immunity to Testify against Clients

[Alabama Blaze]

Well if partaking in the hobby in the US wasn't dangerous enough before, there appears to be a new potential legal issue for hobbyist in the US.

Several years ago, the Districts Attorneys in Nassau County, Long Island, NY started offering escorts immunity from criminal charges if they were willing to flip on clients.

Nassau county lead the US in the number of prosecutions of John's in 2013. This success has other counties in Texas and California copying the New York model by going after clients instead of escorts. 2014 has been a banner year for the arrests and prosecution of clients in the US. In 2011 there was 30,000 clients arrested in the US. In 2014, 80,000 clients have been charged.

DA's in these counties are working closely with local law enforement to make sure escorts are being offered immunity rather than prosectuions.

John's have been a big business boon for DA's in the US. Many U.S. DA's have significantly improved their districts arrests and conviction rates on the backs of the clients in the US. This is a great statistic to have on the books when they're up for re-election in their respective counties.

This represents a paradigm shift in the US where DA's were prosecuting both the escort and client. Many DA's are now focus solely on successfully prosecuting clients. It's comes down to simple math. Prosecute the escort and the client you get two possible convictions. Offer an escort immunity in exhange for their client list, you can arrest and convict a dozens of clients. It's a numbers game in the US and it definitely a numbers game that's not in favor of the clients.

 

[screwtape1963]

Well if partaking in the hobby in the US wasn't dangerous enough before, there appears to be a new potential legal issue for hobbyist in the US.

Several years ago, the Districts Attorneys in Nassau County, Long Island, NY started offering escorts immunity from criminal charges if they were willing to flip on clients.

Nassau county lead the US in the number of prosecutions of John's in 2013. This success has other counties in Texas and California copying the New York model by going after clients instead of escorts. 2014 has been a banner year for the arrests and prosecution of clients in the US. In 2011 there was 30,000 clients arrested in the US. In 2014, 80,000 clients have been charged.

DA's in these counties are working closely with local law enforement to make sure escorts are being offered immunity rather than prosectuions.

John's have been a big business boon for DA's in the US. Many U.S. DA's have significantly improved their districts arrests and conviction rates on the backs of the clients in the US. This is a great statistic to have on the books when they're up for re-election in their respective counties.

This represents a paradigm shift in the US where DA's were prosecuting both the escort and client. Many DA's are now focus solely on successfully prosecuting clients. It's comes down to simple math. Prosecute the escort and the client you get two possible convictions. Offer an escort immunity in exhange for their client list, you can arrest and convict a dozens of clients. It's a numbers game in the US and it definitely a numbers game that's not in favor of the clients.

Main difference here is that, under C-36, since the SPs are all "victims", they cannot be offered "immunity" in exchange for testimony because they can't be charged in the first place. In the US, the escorts are also liable to be charged because BOTH sides of the transaction are illegal, which is what gives these DAs the legal leverage to do these sort of "trades". However, that straight and easy approach of "we arrest both of you together and then cut one of you a deal to testify against the other - and a dozen other guys in your "book" as well" won't fly here.

Having said that, I have no doubt whatsoever myself that eventually the authorities somewhere in Canada will attempt to use the threat of criminal charges to try to force an escort to testify against her clients. However, it is going to have to be through some sort of convoluted twisting of the law. I still think it might involve "obstruction of justice" or "conspiracy to aid in the commission of an offence" even though C-36's ban on charging SPs would - on the face of it - stop those type of ab/uses too.

The only possible exception, I suppose, would be an SP who fell under the section dealing with offering services around a school or playground, etc. Although the SPs most likely to be caught by those provisions would be streetwalkers -- who aren't going to have a "book" of clients' names and addresses to trade anyway.

 

[Alabama Blaze]

Wow, the Americans are doing a really great job with the "War against Prostitution". I read last night that one woman is certain prostitution will be abolished in her lifetime. With arrest numbers like those she just might get her wish.

No mentions how many of 80,000 arrests led to convictions. All of this hoopla was used to re-elect US DA's that were up for re-election this year. Who know if they'll have the same motivation next year when their job is not at stake.

 

[vancity_cowboy]

Wow, the Americans are doing a really great job with the "War against Prostitution". I read last night that one woman is certain prostitution will be abolished in her lifetime. With arrest numbers like those she just might get her wish.

when all else fails, break out the trusty calculator...

300,000,000 (u.s. population) x 0.5 (number of men) x 3% (number of u.s. pooners [wag]) = 4,500,000 u.s. pooners

4,500,000 / 80,000 (charges during 2014) = 56.25 years to arrest the current number of u.s. pooners. this does not take into account any new pooners that will enter the business

i would say she shouldn't hold her breath while she's waiting, it wouldn't be good for her health...

 

[Alabama Blaze]

I was hoping someone would put those numbers into context, thanks vcc.

I've been looking for an better statistics. I'll post them when I can find them. Anytime you get numbers thrown out during the election season you have to expect that people are stats are sku'd in favor of the people who are trying to get elected. I was planning talking with some of the folks on ECIE forums to see if they have more accurate info.

 

[Alabama Blaze]

Wow, the Americans are doing a really great job with the "War against Prostitution". I read last night that one woman is certain prostitution will be abolished in her lifetime. With arrest numbers like those she just might get her wish.

Hey Travellor:

I finally was able to set-up a chat with some of the legal experts on ECCIE. The real numbers are somewhere between 12,000 to 14,000 arrests with only a small percentage resulting in any actual jail time or convictions. Most of the arrest result in fine and a ticket to John School or probation.

The Repulicans making these claims are using some very creative accounting by counting the number of arrest warrants and counts across multiple counties and state lines. They do a good job of counting the same person 4 or 5 times over.

The actual figure is no where near close to what the Repulican DA's claim. Many of these investigations are very expesnive and big numbers are used to make things sound more effective.

 

[Alabama Blaze]

In the US, some cities stack many charges some not sex related. It helps with plea bargaining. For example, tax evasion, fake ID, drugs, whatever. If the Canadian popular press and LE buy into the "victim" theory, then the Frankenstein monster is joint Federal/ Provincial operations which can grow beyond sex work into other areas. At least, that is what seems to be happening in the US.

Many of the DA's in New York and Texas are focusing on villanize the clients and treating SP's like victims that need the Govenment to step in and intervene. The U.S. starting using the victimization theory long before the Bedford Supreme Court decison.

MacKay may have copied some of Rice's ideas when drafting the new bill.

The "victimization" tredn in the US gained mainstream attention under Democrat, Kathleen Rice. She's now a member of the U.S. congress now. She led the charge to villianize John's. Repulican DA's in other U.S. States are taking-up similar tactics. Her tough stance on prostitution helped her gain support among the traditionally Republican voters in her district.

http://m.nydailynews.com/opinion/odious-unjust-prostitution-sting-article-1.1364301#bmb=1

 

[pill49]

Thanks guys for keeping us updated!!!
Like any sport or hobby one can get sooooo caught up in the fun part that one forgets the looming dangers…..
Happy Holidays