Police in Los Angeles are testing an interesting new program designed to reduce the solicitation of prostitutes. The program allows first-timers to avoid a conviction for soliciting prostitutes, if they take are willing to be yelled at and lectured for eight hours. Sentencing Law & Policy has more.
It's not jail, to be sure, but john school is no joke. For eight hours, the men are yelled at, pleaded with and lectured. One weary-looking john, who says he has come straight from a night shift at work, receives a firm shake from Margolis every time he nods off and eventually is told to stand up to stay awake. Each presentation is aimed at either scaring them straight with all the terrible things that can be inflicted upon a john or opening their eyes to the ugly realities of the sex-for-money industry. It's not meant as a feel-good therapy session or an opportunity to explain away bad decisions, so there is no give-and-take in the class. The johns are not allowed to ask questions or speak. They sit and listen.
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