Police and Community Concerns Over Street Prostitution Highlighted in ASU Study

An ASU Center for Problem‑Oriented Policing study outlines how police departments view street prostitution as linked to human trafficking, drug activity, violence and other crimes, prompting enforcement focus and victim‑assistance efforts. Community members—including residents, business owners, schools and local organizations—express strong concerns about public safety, neighborhood quality of life and impacts on children, generally tolerating little or no prostitution.

The report notes that many communities actively attend neighborhood meetings, report suspicious activity and support programs that help victims exit prostitution. It also records police resource constraints, with departments citing the high cost of investigations and limited court actions. Some community groups organize to expose clients and promote rehabilitation for sex workers, while emphasizing that tolerance hinges on the absence of harm to the broader community.