Chicago sheriff declares Craigslist 'a public nuisance' for aiding the sex trade
Yesterday, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart filed suit against classified ad site Craigslist in the US District Court of Northern Illinois to shut down the "erotic services" section of the site, and seek redress for all the resources consumed by Craigslist-related prostitution investigation.
"To say Craigslist's 'erotic services' forum makes prostitution accessible is an understatement," opens the complaint, "Advocacy groups consider the website to be one of the largest sources for prostitution in the country."
Dart, a former democratic state representative, won the position of Cook County Sheriff in 2006, his department is the second largest Sheriff's Office in the United States. The department has conducted a number of large scale sting operations to combat prostitution rings that used Craigslist as something of a menu.
"Prostitution arrests in Cook County via Craigslist are incessant. Arrests consume the time, money, and resources of law enforcement agencies... [The Erotic Services] section is a convenient clearinghouse for pimps, prostitutes, and patrons that enables sellers to advertise and buyers to peruse discreetly."
Dart determined that over 300 listings per day are posted in the Erotic Services section of Craigslist Chicago. Using stats from Compete.com, Dart also determined that the section is the most popular on all of Craigslist, consistently getting the highest number of hits, more than double the next closest category.
Due to a 2008 joint agreement with Connecticut's Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, postings in the Erotic Services section are no longer free (each ad costs the advertiser between $5-$10), and Craigslist agrees to donate that money to charities that combat child exploitation and human trafficking.
Dart points out that, "Ironically, the joint statement enables [Craigslist] to receive money for the erotic services posts. While the Defendant says it will donate this money to charity, the joint statement allows the website to generate goodwill and possible tax benefits through its proliferation of prostitution."