Legislation to combat prostitution

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Newport News Police Dept. is preparing new legislation to combat prostitution within the city. Below is more information on what the department is doing to forward that legislation:

"Each year the Newport News Police Department is asked for recommendations it has regarding changes to state codes or any ideas for new codes. Lt. Hudgins is preparing a proposal that will be forwarded through Chief Fox to the City's legislative coordinator for consideration to be forwarded to the General Assembly. There is no way to know at this time if or when it would be considered by the General Assembly," says Lou Thurston, Newport News Police Spokesman.

The Newport News Police Department is working on a project called "A Comprehensive Response to the Prostitution Problem in Newport News." Lieutenant M. Hudgins, one of the investigators working on the project says, "We would like to take a three tier approach to abating prostitution activity in Newport News."

In an email received by the Newport News Police Department, three goals of the legislation were outlined. They are as follows:

"First we would like to change some laws through the creation of city ordinances. Since we are a Dillon Rule state, the city must have specific permission from the Code of VA. We do not have that yet. We submitted our request (legislative package) for this permission on July 15, 2009. We would like to create a mapping law that mimics Wichita, Kansas. The mapping law would restrict convicted prostitutes from going into certain areas of the city. The law would have enhanced penalties for Johns and prostitutes who commit prostitution offenses in mapped areas. We would like the city ordinance to mimic our current petite larceny code. 1st offense is a class one misdemeanor, second offense requires a mandatory minimum sentence, the third offense is a felony (for Johns and prostitutes).

The second tier focuses on "Johns". We need to start enforcing the asset seizure section of the VA code for prostitution offenders. More specifically, we can seize the "Johns" car if it is his second or subsequent offense. Secondly, we need to get back to the practice of posting "johns" pictures, names and charges on our website. Additionally, we need to release this information to the press (research shows this is an effective tool in reducing prostitution recidivism). We need to look into developing a "John" school for those arrested for any prostitution related offense.

There is correlation between street prostitution and drug use. We would like to develop a program that is similar to our "first offender/drug court" program. This program will be for prostitutes who are drug addicts. The classes could cover drug treatment, financial classes, health/welfare classes, and parenting/family classes."