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City Files Suit Against Pimps and Prostitutes
May 12, 2008, 8:52 PM PDT 
South L.A. -- Los Angeles is taking aim at pimps and prostitutes, specifically a group constantly in trouble with the law along L.A.'s Figueroa corridor.L.A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo announced a court injunction against the group Monday morning along with the city's chief prosecutor and members of the LAPD. The injunction, which was filed Friday, seeks to exclude 41 chronic offenders, specifically five pimps and 36 prostitutes, from the area to help reduce crime. Four of the five targeted pimps are known to have gang affiliations and the 36 prositutes account for 127 of the corridor's prostitution arrests, according to Nick Velasquez with the City Attorney's office. The Figueroa Corridor, 100 yards to each side of Figueroa Street between Vernon Avenue and El Segundo Boulevard, is known as the city's epicenter for vice activities. Pimps named in the injunction are excluded from the Figueroa Corridor and are prohibited from associating with or assisting prostitutes, using intimidation, interfering with traffic and possessing weapons. They must also report any vehicle and residential information to law enforcement. Prostitutes named in the injunction are also excluded from the area. Violators will be arrested and subject to a misdemeanor charge, Velasquez said. Delgadillo also unveiled a prostitution diversion program, or an "opt-out" provision, aimed at first time offenders. "We're launching the injunction for chronic offenders and the diversion program for first-time offenders at the same time because fighting crime in the 21st Century means getting smarter – not just tougher - with our public safety initiatives," Delgadillo said. The diversion program is open to first-time offender prostitutes and "Johns" who have no prior convictions for drugs or violence. Program participants must enroll in, and complete, an eight hour seminar and must submit to an AIDS test and follow-up support services. If the offender completes the seminar and appropriate referral services, no charges will be filed. The LAPD has devoted vast resources to fighting prositution along the Figueroa Corridor, including conducting undercover operations and providing roving patrols. Since 2002, more than 1,000 prostitutes have been arrested in the Figueroa Corridor and prosecuted by the City Attorney's office. Copyright © 2008, KTLA More Coverage  
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