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