Surveillance cameras and other video technology are used to discourage sex buyers or to provide evidence against them. Openly used cameras serve as a deterrent and others used covertly help to gather evidence for police and prosecutors.

• Locate cities and counties that have used this tactic.

To learn more about this intervention, access the resources provided below.

Overview of the Use of Cameras to Combat Demand for Commercial Sex in the U.S.:

• Cameras Overview from National Assessment  (PDF, 34 KB)

Reports on Use of Cameras to Combat Demand for Commercial Sex:

• Buffalo, NY:
  • Benson and Matthews (2000); Buffalo Prostitution Task Force (1999): http://www.popcenter.org/problems/street_prostitution/PDFs/Workable%20Solutions.pdf
• Gordon Heights, NY:
  • http://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/21/us/town-puts-prostitutes-on-videotape.html
• Richmond, VA:
  • http://richmondmagazine.com/?articleID=b5cb40e87958aec37f46616f19a5633c
• Tacoma, WA:
  • Tacoma News Tribune, September 28, 2007.  Crackdown on Pacific Avenue: Extra patrols, community activism make a dent in prostitution.
  • Tacoma News Tribune, November 21, 2007.  Neighbors plan crime control.
• Vallejo, CA:
  • Success Fighting Prostitution Prompts Vallejo To Deploy More Cameras

Download Adobe Reader