The human sex industry is booming, and Milwaukee is a major hub. The city is working to combat prostitution by enacting new laws and using community resources.
The city recently sued the house owners that officials say is a den for prostitutes and drug use. Assistant City Attorney Heather Hough says the lawsuit asks the judge to declare the property a nuisance.
Legality
Milwaukee has long been a prostitution hub. While local police have logged hundreds of arrests each year, the number has declined in recent years. However, the city’s criminal defense attorney Carlos Gamino warns that if you are caught soliciting a prostitute, you can face serious consequences.
According to a 2014 Milwaukee Neighborhood News escort services report, prostitution continues to be an issue. Local law enforcement often conducts sting operations to catch johns and hookers. In addition, the city’s downtown red light district closed in 1912 but hasn’t stopped prostitutes from seeking work.
To combat this problem, local police have teamed up with a private security company to fight human trafficking. But the new measure has sparked criticism from the local community and has even caused some escort agencies to close. The sex workers’ rights group Red Umbrella Justice has expressed concern that the new ordinance will put prostitutes at risk. The group has already filed a lawsuit against the city over the new policy.
Licensing
The human sex industry is a multi-billion dollar business, and Milwaukee, like many cities across the country, has a problem. Pimps use a variety of methods to lure women into commercial sex, and the city’s high poverty rate makes it easy for them to make money on a single woman.
The issue is so serious that the city is trying to change laws to stop prostitution. The new rules would require escorts to have a license and to meet strict background checks. Anyone who hires an unlicensed escort could face up to $5,000 in fines.
Cooper is part of a community of people who want to end Milwaukee’s prostitution problem. One of the ways they are doing that is by opening a drop-in center for women who work in prostitution. The new facility will provide support services and education to help these women break free of their pimps. Cooper says it is important to remember that these women are not criminals but victims of modern-day slavery.
Requirements
In addition to licensing, Milwaukee escorts service must maintain on their premises daily records containing the name of each escort employed by them. The escort must also carry a certified copy of her license on her person at all times. The license must be exhibited upon request by law enforcement personnel.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Milwaukee’s downtown red-light district was a hub of the human sex trade. A reform-minded Socialist administration was able to shut the area down, but it did little to deter the city’s thriving prostitution.
Federal prosecutors say the city’s Greenfield Avenue strip is a major hub of prostitution and trafficking in women. The city is attempting to crack down on the problem by using an old law to target bawdy houses. Locals say the move is not enough and that the streetwalkers are a danger to their children.
Taxes
Milwaukee has long been known as a hotbed of sex trafficking. The city’s high poverty rate is a big draw for pimps, who trick girls into commercial sex with promises of luxury lifestyles. The city’s downtown red light district was shut down in 1912, but streetwalking continues to thrive elsewhere.
Police often perform stings targeting prostitutes and johns. They arrest dozens of people each year, but the problem persists. Those who solicit prostitutes could be fined up to $5,000. A state law passed last year requires anyone convicted of that offense to pay the fine.
A local sex workers’ rights group has asked lawmakers to pass legislation that would require escorts in Milwaukee and johns to be licensed. The law would also penalize clients who hire unlicensed escorts. The bill would also require escorts to carry identification that includes their first name, last name, and middle initial, if any. The ID should be carried on their person at all times and displayed to law enforcement officers upon request.
