Thursday, August 27, 2009

Tennessee's Answer To Prostitution?


First time male offenders have an option to attend a class in Nashville, Tennessee designed to reduce prostitution. All attendees have been caught trying to buy or barter for a prostitute's services. The one-day program is called the John School. Volunteers, city officials, and representatives of the Magdalene House (nonprofit organization that helps reform prostitutes) all attempt to educate johns about the danger of prostitution.

Part of the curriculum is to educate men about the risks of hiring a prostitute. (The theory is that Women won't stop selling sex until men stop buying.) So rather than arrest suppliers, they are trying to reduce demand through education. Atlanta, Georgia, and Baltimore, Maryland, are among many cities that plan to launch similar programs. John Schools


The contention is that prostitution is not a victimless crime. It contributes to the exploitation of women. It also hurts families and communities. Other countries have also sought to reduce prostitution. China targets prostitutes.


The FBI's 2007 Uniform Crime Report lists about 78,000 arrests for prostitution and commercialized vice. Some opine that the Internet has increased the problem.
But in Nashville the Internet is being used to combat the problem by displaying the johns' faces on a police Web site. Nashville's John school started in the 1990s and the program continues to grow. Only first-time offenders are eligible for John School. If the suspected John pleads guilty, pays a $250 fee and completes the course without another violation, the charge can be dismissed after a year.


San Francisco, California has one of the largest John programs in the country. Statistics indicate that re-arrest rates fell sharply after the school was launched. But some argue that John School are not enough punishment. They advocate more stricter punishment such as putting Johns on a sex offenders list. On the other hand, Sex Workers Outreach Project, advocates legalizing prostitution in California, and thus does not endorse the program. The answer to the demand for prostitution is not clear. In this growing era of sexless marriages, biological needs will always create a demand. Perhaps Blond Bombshell had the answer in her article. LINK. Another answer might be subsidized trips to Nevada where prostitution is a highly regulated legal business. Or, perhaps abstinence such as advocated by the Catholic Church will work. (Although past experience suggest otherwise. LINK. )
Update 9-3-09: Rosa suggests that those interested in reading more on John Schools view the following: VIDEO LINK

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cute idea. But I think it ought to be legalized.

Anonymous said...

Rev Cutie is better looking than that!

Anonymous said...

This program really works.

Jay said...

Prostitution is a hole sale business.

~Jay

C said...

Come on
now Jay.

You get what you pay for!

~C

K. said...

As you may know, I am a doctor. The other day I walked into a bank and accidentally tried to endorse a check with my rectal thermometer. Realizing my mistake, I looked at the thermometer with annoyance and said, "Well that's great, just great... some asshole's got my pen."



K.

oncefallendotcom said...

Studies show public registries are ineffective at reducing recidivism. --see http://www.oncefallen.com/registriesrevisited.html -- but the John School idea is better than just a public shaming list. Think about it, a list that tells working women who are clients and who are cops.

Anonymous said...

So these "Johns" did not know that what they were doing was bad, could lead to a STD and arrest ?

Please !

These "Johns" knew all of this and did it anyway.

It was not due to a lack of education on the subject, but a lack of good judgement.

Anonymous said...

Good idea. A customer list. Never thought about that. Kind of a sophisticated mailing list!

Anonymous said...

Doc you are hilarious. so is the idea of educating a john on the dangers of unprotected for pay sex.

Anonymous said...

Doc, you are hilarious. Love the rectal thermometer story. Got to think the program does nothing except organize the users of these services.

Legal Pub said...

Rosa suggests the following vido on the subject:

http://www.newsy.com/videos/diagnosing_prostitution

Anonymous said...

In todays economy, prostitution is on the decline as more men are saving money by sleeping with their own wives.

Anonymous said...

The difference between a wife and a prostitute is ALIMONY.

Anonymous said...

Dang, in many cases that may be true...

Anonymous said...

Dang, in many cases that may be true...

Krispy Critter said...

I resemble the alimony comment...

Anonymous said...

Should be legalized, in nevada it is legal and they r std checked all the time and nobidy ever gets anything through a brothel, condoms r used its the law, the state makes more money, rape is reduced, but I have to say its not the men keeping prostitution going its the women seducing men, that is wrong to seduce a man because naturaly a man will go for it if he is seduced enough, the women should be the one getting arested, and the police r baiting the men thats sick, u cant just play with a mans head like that and expect him to reject, in my opinion its just a way to get more arrests in to get more money