Community prosecutor Michelle Waymire and administrator Diane Hannell, who were both originally assigned to the East District, launched the program in response to numerous complaints from both business leaders and community residents. The resulting diversion program offers first-time offenders a chance to avoid a conviction by participating in a full Saturday of activities.
They are tested for syphilis and then spend a morning listening to a Health Department presentation about sexually transmitted diseases and participating in a neighborhood impact panel, in which area residents talk about the effects prostitution has on their community.
My kids have to deal with it. Jay Height, who participated in the planning of the program. At the first impact panel, offenders also heard a woman describe how the arrest of her husband several years ago for patronizing a prostitute hurt her family.
District Attorney Carl Brizzi himself sometimes speaks to offenders. Thus, in the afternoon, the offenders, wearing orange vests to identify them as program participants, pick up trash as part of clean-up crews. Offenders also agree to stay outside a one-mile radius from where they were arrested, with waivers available for those who live, work or otherwise have a valid reason to be there.
Offenders must avoid committing any additional criminal offense over the next two years or face the possibility of being re-charged in the prostitution case. It kept me from a deviant lifestyle. The guilt and shame has been excruciating, yet beneficial. Thank you.
