Oakland Police Launch Website To Shame Pimps, Inform Public
OAKLAND (CBS SF) - Individuals who have been arrested in Oakland for prostitution-related offenses and been charged by the Alameda County District Attorney's Office will now be featured on the Oakland Police Department's website.
In an effort to combat sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, the Oakland Police Department launched a new Human Trafficking section on Friday on its website.
The new section of the website will display booking photos of individuals arrested and charged with soliciting prostitution and those profiting from prostitution, police said.
Not only will booking photos of alleged pimps and purchasers be posted online, but the arrestee's name, date of birth, city of residence and the date and nature of their arrest will also be publicly posted, police said.
In a statement released on Monday, the department explained that the new website is designed to keep the community informed about people who have been arrested and charged for prostitution-related offenses.
The department said in the statement, "We are dedicated to identifying and rescuing victims of trafficking and locating and arresting perpetrators of this crime."
Oakland police said they work closely with the district attorney's office "to hold the perpetrators of these serious crimes accountable and with victim advocacy groups to provide support to the victims."
Police are urging the community to help combat trafficking by staying informed and by reporting suspected prostitution and sex trafficking incidents through the department's anonymous tip line at (510) 238-2373.
Anyone with specific information about the individuals listed on the website or with information about the crimes for which they have been arrested is asked to call (510) 777-3333 to make a police report or to call an anonymous tip line at (510) 238-2373.
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