West Palm Beach Fighting Prostitution With Public Shaming for Repeat Offenders
City to post photos of johns arrested for soliciting prostitutes
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Two-time johns better be ready for their close-up in West Palm Beach.
The city commission voted Monday to post arrest photos of people busted for soliciting prostitutes a second time on the city's website, according to WPTV.
Mayor Jeri Muoio agreed not to post photos of first-time offenders after she attended a Prostitution Impact Prevention Education course that educates first-time offenders
"We didn't want to interfere with the success they have in that program," Muoio said. "We decided that second-time, multiple offenders would be the way to target it."
The city had a similar program in the 1990s, but it was dropped after a man whose name was printed was acquitted and sued the city and won a $10,000 settlement.
Now, only the photos will be posted.
Residents say the economic downturn has prostitution more popular than ever in West Palm, and some say repeat offenders deserve the public shaming.
"If they've been arrested a second time, or beyond, you've got to make them realize that they're not helping society and they're endangering their own lives and the lives of any other," resident Myrna Sossner said.
