At their March 1, 2017 meeting, Fulton County Commissioners voted 5-0, with
one abstention, to amend the Fulton County Code to give police additional
criteria to investigate a suspect for suspicion of soliciting prostitution or
participating in human trafficking. The code amendments detail what
behaviors can lead to additional police investigation for these crimes
including ways to identify those “cruising” for sex. The resolution,
co-sponsored by Chairman John H. Eaves and District 2 Commissioner Bob Ellis
amends an ordinance that will make it easier to charge individuals who seek to
buy sex services.
"The
stories I've heard are horrifying and saddening," said Fulton County Board
of Commissioners Chairman John Eaves. "Few people realize how many
innocent young girls are being forced to sell themselves for sex. Our action
today makes it clear that something as simple as loitering can be a red flag
that someone is a potential predator and we won't tolerate it."
“In
bringing this forward, it was my intent to address the power imbalance that
currently exists between those seeking to purchase sexual services and those
being exploited to perform the acts,” stated District 2 Commissioner, Bob
Ellis. “I believe this is a model ordinance that can be replicated across
the Metro Atlanta area, and I will be reaching out to other jurisdictions to
ask them to join Fulton County in the effort to end commercial sexual
exploitation.”
In areas that are known to authorities
for frequent prostitution arrests, officers would be given additional latitude
to investigate a loitering suspect who engages in several suspicious behaviors
including repeatedly circling the block in a car, stopping a motor vehicle in a
county road to beckon to or engage with others on the side of the road,
repeatedly stopping or attempting to stop drivers by hailing them down, and
remaining in a vehicle in parking lot or vacant area for extended periods of
time. The Fulton County Police Department worked with the nonprofit group
YouthSpark to develop the ordinance amendments, which recognize that the most
effective way to address sexual trafficking is to more effectively prosecute
people seeking to purchase sex.
“This
local legislation is a necessary step to curtail sex trafficking,” says Fulton
County Police Chief Gary Stiles. “For much too long the "customers"
of this ugly business have been able to avoid being charged with a crime as
they cruise areas for purposes of paying strangers for sex acts.”
“We
are proud of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners for recognizing that the
illegal sex trade is driven by "buyers" whose actions exploit others,
particularly vulnerable young people,” said Dr. Alex Trouteaud, Executive
Director of youthSpark. “We hope other counties and cities across metro
Atlanta will consider adopting similar approaches to Fulton County in their
anti-trafficking ordinances. No buyers, no business...no trafficking.”
On
October 7, 2015, the Board of Commissioners, led by Chairman John Eaves and
Commissioner Bob Ellis, unanimously adopted a resolution creating and
establishing the Fulton County Commercial Sexual Exploitation Prevention
Coalition, a multidisciplinary coalition to prevent commercial sexual
exploitation. That coalition brings together individuals from a variety of backgrounds,
including law enforcement, criminal justice, nonprofit, and civic
organizations, committed to ending sexual exploitation within Fulton County.
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