The Howard County Vice and Narcotics Unit?s January prostitution arrest of ex-UMBC assistant professor Brandy Britton has sparked new life into an age-old debate: Are prostitution arrests a good use of taxpayer dollars?
In 2005, police officers across the state of Maryland arrested more people on prostitution charges (1,898) than they did on charges of forcible rape (418), arson (572) and various other sex offenses (1,312). Howard police are on pace to triple their prostitution arrests this year. They?ve locked up 52 people, including Britton, on charges of prostitution this year, compared to 18 in all of 2005.
But are such arrests a good use of police manpower, money and time?
“I would say that if it?s the most serious crime they have going on in Howard County, then those people are indeed blessed,” said Vince Femia, a retired Prince George?s County Circuit Court judge. “Tell me you spent months investigating an illegal weapons center or a hangout for bank robbers. You?re telling me you spent that kind of money to get rid of a hooker? I object as a citizen and a taxpayer.”
Sheldon Greenberg, Johns Hopkins? director of the division of public safety leadership, said prostitution arrests can be useful if the crime is overrunning a community, but such operations are a huge drain on police resources.
“Prostitution investigations require a great deal of time and effort,” he said. “Given the percentage of officers on patrol, you have to ask, ?Is it the best us of police resources?? It?s not high on the agenda of a lot of police departments.”
Beverly Hills attorney Darren Kavinoky, who provides legal commentary on high-profile cases on such shows as “Larry King Live” and “Today,” said a better approach to making prostitution busts would be legalizing the business.
“It should be legalized and regulated, like Nevada and Amsterdam,” he said.
Howard County police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said officers have seen a spike in prostitution arrests this year because they?ve had increased complaints from community members about the crime.
“When a community recognizes what they believe to be an illegal activity in their neighborhood, they contact us,” she said. “As a result, we often launch investigations or even month-long operations. Often times, we see prostitution go hand-in-hand with drug use and drug sales. We are obligated as a law enforcement agency to do something about it.”
Still, Greenberg says police routinely ignore other minor offenses, such as speeding and loitering, and some critics say authorities should employ social remedies to help dissuade women from the profession.
“The idea that we?re going to arrest and arrest and arrest is ridiculous,” Kavinoky said. “It sort of begs the question: What are we as a society doing to empower people who have fallen on hard times?”
