Lancaster County police have arrested 11 individuals in East Lampeter township, since August 2016, through investigations into prostitution activity. Of those arrested, four were women and seven were men. The women were charged with Prostitution and Related Offenses under 18 Pa. C.S. § 5902(a). Meanwhile, the men were all charged under 18 Pa. C.S. § 5902(e) Patronizing Prostitutes.
The investigations took place at several hotels along Lincoln Highway, in East Lampeter township. The cases against the four women arrested through these investigations are in different phases of litigation. One case is still awaiting a preliminary hearing, another has been deemed inactive, one defendant has plead guilty and is subject to a fine, and the final case has been closed by the Court of Common Pleas and is awaiting payment from the defendant. We would encourage Lancaster County to offer social services to prostituted persons, rather than prosecute them and subject them to fines and terms of imprisonment. Having these women on probation, pay court costs and fines, and receive a criminal record hinders their restoration and recovery.
We do, however, support Lancaster County police’s efforts in targeting sex buyers and commend them for policing the demand as an effective law enforcement tool to combat commercial sexual exploitation. Presently, five of the seven cases involving sex buyers are still pending in the Court of Common Pleas, while the other two men arrested have already entered guilty pleas.
This incident is only one of the investigations into prostitution activity conducted in Lancaster County. For instance, earlier this year, Lancaster County police set up an operation specifically targeting sex buyers. Through this operation, Lancaster County police successfully arrested 10 individuals for soliciting sex.
While we encourage Lancaster County police to offer victim services to the women arrested for prostitution, we do congratulate the County for its rigorous efforts to target the sex buyers. It is only through continuous recognition that demand drives the commercial sexual industry that local law enforcement can work to eradicate the problem and offer those who are sexually exploited opportunities to heal.