Mar 13, 2008 8:53 am US/Eastern
Police In Mass. Battle Online Prostitution
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
This Spitzer scandal has opened a window onto a world of high-priced prostitution operating online, but what police are dealing with here in Boston is a long way from luxury hotels and "escorts" charging $5,000 an hour.
These services that operate primarily online are putting a whole new pressure on police departments.
WBZ found police departments in and around Boston have made this kind of crime a higher priority.
The ads for sexual services run by the hundreds on craigslist, and Boston Police Sergeant Kelly O'Connell tries to track them. "It's just so prevalent, the demand factor, the demand for sex."
Now being exposed in the case of Elliot Spitzer, but unlike the image of high paid call girls in that case, O'connell says the reality is much different. "The typical is average of 15 to 21-years old who are recruited and groomed by the individual pimp."
Cherie Jimenez once worked in the sex industry and now young prostitutes in Boston find options.
She says even at the high end, the work destroys lives. "It pulls you in places you don't want to go even if you start out thinking you have control of the situation."
It's moved from the streets and more hidden inside. And the services are a keystroke away making it harder to police.
And it's not just a trade of the cities. Police in Auburn pulled up an ad on craigslist in their own backyard. Several recent stings have netted arrests, but the chief needs help with enforcement. "The ease and accessibility for anyone go onto any of these Web sites set up dates or prostitution rendezvous," said Chief Andrew Sluckis.
Spitzer may have paid into a high end operation, but these advocates say it's not a victimless crime. "You get caught up in an industry... it's all about exploitation," said Jimenez.
In fact, investigators say most prostitutes are as young as 13-years-old when they enter the business. Far from five-thousand dollars, most are making much less and see little of their earnings.
As a mark of how this problem is growing, Auburn police say they're hoping to add eight officers to the force in part to help them do more sting operations against prostitution.
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