The City of Phoenix’s Human Trafficking Task Force gave its recommendations to curb sex trafficking and prostitution at a special city council meeting Wednesday.
One key recommendation involved amending the penalty section of the city code which prohibits prostitution or the solicitation of sex. Deputy City Manager Deanna Jonovich, a member of the task force, said it recommends instituting a mandatory booking policy.
"This would mean the individual would go through the booking process, they would sit in the cell until they are able to appear before the judge — this could be anywhere from 10 to 24 hours," Jonovich said.
Jonovich said mandatory booking would send the message that the City of Phoenix will not tolerate sex trafficking or prostitution. The subcommittee’s recommendations now go to the full city council. City leaders hope to approve the measure before the Super Bowl in two weeks.
