Prostitutes around the Clock

March 5, 2009 Posted by Matthew Conaster in Crime & Punishment

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart says he’s busted enough prostitutes who were pimped out on Craigslist to know the popular on-line classified site is the country’s largest whorehouse. “I am fed up. I am tired and this is going to stop,” Dart said. Today, Dart filed a federal lawsuit asking a judge to force San Francisco-based Craigslist to eliminate the “erotic services” section of its website, where he said most prostitution ads are posted. The lawsuit also asks that Craigslist reimburse Cook County for the salaries of officers that who investigate prostitution and human trafficking through the website — a bill of more than $100,000. “We’re asking them to do what frankly they should have been doing all along — stop facilitating prostitution. Stop being the largest source of prostitution in America,” Dart said. “This may sound a little dramatic. It’s not. It’s real ... This is horrific stuff folks.” Since January 2007, sheriff’s police have arrested 200 people on prostitution charges, juvenile pimping and human trafficking directly connected to Craigslist advertisements. Arrests have ranged from suburban soccer moms to heroin addicts, a former reality TV star and several juveniles, some as a young as 14. A Craigslist spokeswoman said she has not seen Dart’s complaint, but the company does cooperate with law enforcement.

"Misuse of Craigslist to facilitate criminal activity is unacceptable, and we continue to work diligently to prevent it. Misuse of the site is exceptionally rare compared to how much the site is used for legal purposes," Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster said in a statement. "Craigslist is an extremely unwise choice for those intent on committing crimes, since criminals inevitably leave an electronic trail to themselves that law enforcement officers will follow. On a daily basis, we are being of direct assistance to police departments and federal authorities nationwide."

Dart, however, argued that Craigslist doesn't actively police the "erotic services" postings on its website and in fact provides a way for pimps to "insulate" themselves from being involved with paid sex acts. Craigslist "is an accomplice," Dart said. "How is it any different than two individuals being engaged in prostitution where one will handle the women and the other one is running advertising. There is no difference here.” Dart said he asked Craigslist several times over the last two years to voluntarily remove the section of the website most often used by prostitution rings, but to no avail. Dart said the federal lawsuit, which cites public nuisance laws, was the most effective way to make a difference.

“Could I arrest prostitutes around the clock? Yeah, what’s the point here?” Dart said. “I want to do something that matters in helping these women. The best way is to remove this site that actively and aggressively helping this crime going forward.”

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