Flint Police To Post Photos Of Suspected Prostitutes, Johns On Facebook
FLINT, Mich. (WWJ) - Those arrested for prostitution in Flint may now find their names and faces plastered all over social media.
Flint Police Chief James Tolbert told WWJ Newsradio 950 a new campaign targets those who are charged in connection with active engagement in the buying or selling of sex.
"We're gonna just continue the same process we have been doing, but these individuals we arrest now, once they've been photographed and they're in the lockup, we're going to publish their pictures on our Facebook page," Tolbert explained, adding that once a suspect is arraigned it's OK to release the information as it becomes public record.
According to Tolbert, this type of "public shaming" of suspected prostitutes and their suspected solicitors is the next step after many attempts to stop this activity and protect city residents.
He said simply making arrests isn't enough to deter prostitution.
"We've always received complaints about prostitution activity in the neighborhoods, and we've done many things," said Tolbert. "We've had stings, we've had types of sweeps where we target that activity, and we still get the complaints."
Tolbert said he hopes this new social media strategy, which goes into effect this week, serves as a detractor to people who partake in these types of illegal activities.
