ann_onymous
09-14-2007, 07:41 AM
I know this is a serious issue. The solution is rather interesting.
Sex education lesson for johns
Pitfalls of paying for prostitutes
By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
scroteau@telegram.com
WORCESTER— The city already has a program aimed at getting prostitutes out of the cycle of drug dependency and working the streets for money, but yesterday a new program was unveiled to educate their customers about the dangers of paying for sex.
Community Action to Reduce Demand, or CARD, is the first program in the state to address johns and speak to them about the risks of being involved in an activity that could lead to sexually transmitted diseases and the economic and social problems of prostitution.
The collaborative effort of the YWCA of Central Massachusetts/Daybreak, city Department of Health and Human Services, Central District Court Probation Department, Worcester police and other organizations was explained to a courtroom full of lawyers, court personnel, judges and other interested parties at Central District Court yesterday.
“We’re here because we have a community problem,” said Cathy Boisvert, community based services coordinator for YWCA/Daybreak. “The problem is prostitution.”
It is only a coincidence that the program comes at a time when the Worcester District Attorney’s office and several police agencies are investigating the murder of Lineida Olivera, a woman known to work as a prostitute in the Main South area.
“Recent events show that buying and selling sex is a dangerous lifestyle,” said Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr., who could not attend the event but commented afterward. “By focusing on johns, we can hold men accountable for poor choices while educating them as to how their behavior affects our neighborhoods and quality of life in Worcester County.”
He further added, “This is the type of community-based innovation we need in the criminal justice system. I applaud the efforts of Daybreak and the YWCA of Central Massachusetts and look forward to helping make this program a success.”
Johns paying for sex risk exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV, and jeopardize family members’ health by possibly exposing them to those diseases, Ms. Boisvert told the group.
There are also associated problems with prostitution, such as crime and noise, and negative impacts on property values and the business climate within an area. The social issues of prostitution also remain a constant with the violence and the power or control issues johns have with buying a person, she added.
Those charged with paying a fee for sexual conduct may choose to enter the CARD program as part of probation, or a continuance without a finding in court, said William P. Mattei, chief probation officer for Central District Court.
The person must consult his lawyer — he could choose to represent himself — and the prosecutor. The lawyers would speak with the Probation Department about entering the program as a condition of probation or the continuance without a finding. CARD should begin in October, Mr. Mattei said.
A $200 fee will self-sustain the program. Participants would go to an eight-hour class held at the Worcester Police Department and the Probation Department would be notified at its completion.
An eight-hour course might not totally change a john’s life or lifestyle, but it is important to educate them about the risks, Ms. Boisvert said.
Sex addiction, the sex industry, the impact prostitution has on women, the legal consequences of being arrested for paying a fee for sexual conduct and other risks will be discussed in the course.
“This is not a shame-based program,” Ms. Boisvert said. “This is an educational-based program.”
Former prostitutes will also talk to the johns, so they can see the women as real people and not objects. The YWCA/Daybreak and the other organizations run Developing Alternatives of Women Now, which provides counselors and therapists to help the women with self-esteem, domestic abuse, rape, drug addiction and anger management.
Organizers of CARD looked at other programs in the country, for example in San Francisco and Las Vegas, while creating their program aimed at educating johns.
Deputy Police Chief Mark S. Roche said the Police Department conducts several prostitution and john sweeps throughout the year.
“It takes a lot of time, money and a lot of resources, and it takes away from doing other things,” he said after attending the event. “We do see a lot of the same people on both sides. It is very demanding and it is a problem.”
The deputy chief believes CARD will be successful. Police will speak to participants in the program as part of the educational process.
“We realize that anytime you are dealing with a serious social issue, in this case prostitution, that no one agency alone can solve the problem,” Deputy Chief Roche said. “It takes a community.”
Sex education lesson for johns
Pitfalls of paying for prostitutes
By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
scroteau@telegram.com
WORCESTER— The city already has a program aimed at getting prostitutes out of the cycle of drug dependency and working the streets for money, but yesterday a new program was unveiled to educate their customers about the dangers of paying for sex.
Community Action to Reduce Demand, or CARD, is the first program in the state to address johns and speak to them about the risks of being involved in an activity that could lead to sexually transmitted diseases and the economic and social problems of prostitution.
The collaborative effort of the YWCA of Central Massachusetts/Daybreak, city Department of Health and Human Services, Central District Court Probation Department, Worcester police and other organizations was explained to a courtroom full of lawyers, court personnel, judges and other interested parties at Central District Court yesterday.
“We’re here because we have a community problem,” said Cathy Boisvert, community based services coordinator for YWCA/Daybreak. “The problem is prostitution.”
It is only a coincidence that the program comes at a time when the Worcester District Attorney’s office and several police agencies are investigating the murder of Lineida Olivera, a woman known to work as a prostitute in the Main South area.
“Recent events show that buying and selling sex is a dangerous lifestyle,” said Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr., who could not attend the event but commented afterward. “By focusing on johns, we can hold men accountable for poor choices while educating them as to how their behavior affects our neighborhoods and quality of life in Worcester County.”
He further added, “This is the type of community-based innovation we need in the criminal justice system. I applaud the efforts of Daybreak and the YWCA of Central Massachusetts and look forward to helping make this program a success.”
Johns paying for sex risk exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV, and jeopardize family members’ health by possibly exposing them to those diseases, Ms. Boisvert told the group.
There are also associated problems with prostitution, such as crime and noise, and negative impacts on property values and the business climate within an area. The social issues of prostitution also remain a constant with the violence and the power or control issues johns have with buying a person, she added.
Those charged with paying a fee for sexual conduct may choose to enter the CARD program as part of probation, or a continuance without a finding in court, said William P. Mattei, chief probation officer for Central District Court.
The person must consult his lawyer — he could choose to represent himself — and the prosecutor. The lawyers would speak with the Probation Department about entering the program as a condition of probation or the continuance without a finding. CARD should begin in October, Mr. Mattei said.
A $200 fee will self-sustain the program. Participants would go to an eight-hour class held at the Worcester Police Department and the Probation Department would be notified at its completion.
An eight-hour course might not totally change a john’s life or lifestyle, but it is important to educate them about the risks, Ms. Boisvert said.
Sex addiction, the sex industry, the impact prostitution has on women, the legal consequences of being arrested for paying a fee for sexual conduct and other risks will be discussed in the course.
“This is not a shame-based program,” Ms. Boisvert said. “This is an educational-based program.”
Former prostitutes will also talk to the johns, so they can see the women as real people and not objects. The YWCA/Daybreak and the other organizations run Developing Alternatives of Women Now, which provides counselors and therapists to help the women with self-esteem, domestic abuse, rape, drug addiction and anger management.
Organizers of CARD looked at other programs in the country, for example in San Francisco and Las Vegas, while creating their program aimed at educating johns.
Deputy Police Chief Mark S. Roche said the Police Department conducts several prostitution and john sweeps throughout the year.
“It takes a lot of time, money and a lot of resources, and it takes away from doing other things,” he said after attending the event. “We do see a lot of the same people on both sides. It is very demanding and it is a problem.”
The deputy chief believes CARD will be successful. Police will speak to participants in the program as part of the educational process.
“We realize that anytime you are dealing with a serious social issue, in this case prostitution, that no one agency alone can solve the problem,” Deputy Chief Roche said. “It takes a community.”