TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – State lawmakers have increased the penalties for people soliciting prostitutes. A second offense now requires at least 10 days in jail. Those convicted must also pay for and attend a johns school.
In 2013-14, only 336 people went to jail under the prostitution statute, but the statistics do not readily reveal how many of them were johns.
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Prostitution is said to be the world's oldest profession. But in file footage, News4Jax witnessed two johns being arrested within just a few hours by an undercover cop "working" the corner.
Now state lawmakers are trying to reduce demand for prostitutes by upping the penalties for soliciting. Meg Baldwin of the Refuge House, who counsels domestic violence victims, said the new legislation is a huge step forward.
"One is that the bill recognizes that buying someone for sex is harmful," Baldwin said.
The first offense is now punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up from $500. Second and third offenses become felonies.
First offenders will now serve 100 hours of community service, but a second offense will get offenders 10 days in the county jail.
The legislation was hailed by the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking.
"The wives and spouses -- this will certainly be a wake up call for them," said Rep. Jeanette Nunez.
Domestic violence counselors are especially keen on provisions that require johns to pay for and attend an education program on prostitution and sex trafficking.
"The recidivism rate among johns who received these kinds of interventions is nearly zero," Baldwin said.
But for the law to succeed, police will need to divert more resources to enforcement, which hasn't been on their front burner.