Is prostitution legal in Green Bay?
No, prostitution is illegal throughout Wisconsin, including Green Bay. Under Wisconsin Statute 944.30, both soliciting and engaging in sex acts for compensation are Class A misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $10,000 and 9 months in jail. Repeat offenses can lead to felony charges. Green Bay police conduct regular sting operations targeting both sex workers and clients, particularly along routes like Military Avenue and near truck stops.
Wisconsin’s “Johns School” program mandates education for clients arrested in solicitation stings, requiring attendance at 8-hour classes about legal consequences and health risks. Law enforcement uses online decoy ads and undercover operations on streets known for solicitation. While indoor sex work occurs in hotels or residences, it carries higher legal risks due to potential trafficking investigations. District attorneys often prosecute prostitution cases alongside related charges like drug possession or loitering.
What are the penalties for prostitution offenses?
First-time offenders typically face $1,000-$5,000 fines and probation, while repeat offenders risk felony charges with 3.5-year maximum prison sentences. Those convicted must register as sex offenders if the act involved minors or trafficking. Beyond legal consequences, arrests become public record, potentially affecting employment, housing, and child custody cases. Vehicles used in solicitation may be impounded, adding $500-$2,000 in recovery fees.
Green Bay courts often mandate STI testing and counseling as part of sentencing. For clients (“johns”), penalties include driver’s license suspension and mandatory HIV education programs. Since 2021, Brown County has diverted some sex workers to rehabilitation programs instead of incarceration, though eligibility depends on criminal history and cooperation with trafficking investigations.
What health risks are associated with street prostitution?
Street-based sex work in Green Bay carries severe health dangers, including STI exposure (Wisconsin has 25% higher chlamydia rates than national average), physical violence, and substance dependency. Limited access to healthcare means many undiagnosed infections spread through unprotected transactions. Needle sharing among intravenous drug users contributes to hepatitis C outbreaks in the sex trade.
Violence remains prevalent – a 2023 Brown County Health Department report found 68% of street-based sex workers experienced assault. Areas like the Broadway District see higher incidents due to isolation and lack of security. Overdoses are common, with fentanyl-laced drugs causing 70% of drug deaths among Green Bay sex workers. Harm reduction services like the NEW Community Clinic offer free testing and naloxone kits near known solicitation zones.
Where can sex workers access medical care?
Confidential services are available at Bellin Health’s Project Respect clinic (435 S. Webster Ave) offering free STI testing, contraception, and wound care without requiring ID. The N.E.W. Community Health Center provides low-cost mental health counseling and addiction treatment specifically for sex workers. Street outreach teams from Golden House distribute “survival kits” containing condoms, antiseptics, and attack alarms in high-risk areas weekly.
For trafficked individuals, the Sexual Assault Center offers forensic exams with victim advocates present. Prevea Health’s Ashwaubenon location runs a needle exchange program and provides hepatitis vaccinations. All services operate under patient confidentiality rules, though providers must report suspected child exploitation per Wisconsin mandatory reporting laws.
How does human trafficking impact Green Bay?
Green Bay’s highway networks and events like Packers games create trafficking vulnerabilities. The National Human Trafficking Hotline identified 157 Wisconsin cases in 2022, with Brown County among top regions. Traffickers often use I-43 corridor hotels to move victims between Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Upper Michigan. Victims typically include runaway teens, undocumented immigrants, and people with substance addictions.
Common trafficking signs in Green Bay include:
- Minors carrying expensive items with no income source
- Tattoos indicating “ownership” (barcodes, dollar signs)
- Hotel rooms with excessive traffic/luggage
- Workers who avoid eye contact or seem controlled
The Brown County Human Trafficking Task Force collaborates with hotel staff and truck stops for identification training. Report tips to (920) 391-1111 or text “HELP” to BeFree Textline (233733).
What support exists for leaving sex work?
Green Bay offers multiple exit programs through the “SOAR Initiative” (Survivors of Abuse and Assault Recovery). Freedom House provides transitional housing with job training, while “New Beginnings” at the YWCA offers GED programs and childcare. The state’s “Dignity for Diversion” project connects former sex workers with expungement lawyers to clear prostitution convictions after rehabilitation.
Key resources include:
- Golden House: 24/7 crisis line (920) 435-0100 with emergency shelter
- House of Hope: Residential addiction treatment with trauma therapy
- Workforce Development: Job placement at NWTC’s “Fresh Start” program
Wisconsin’s “Safe Harbor” laws protect minors from prostitution charges, instead directing them to victim services. Since 2020, over 40 Green Bay sex workers have transitioned through these programs into stable employment.
Are there legal alternatives to prostitution?
Yes, Wisconsin permits adult entertainment with restrictions. Green Bay allows licensed strip clubs like Players Sports Bar where dancers perform but don’t engage in sexual acts. Content creation (OnlyFans, camming) is legal when produced privately. Escort services may operate if they avoid explicit solicitation – agencies like Elite Companions focus on event companionship.
Other options include:
- Sensuality workshops at Awaken Studio
- Fetish modeling for local photographers
- Professional cuddling services
- Phone-based fantasy operators (regulated by PUC)
Note: Any direct exchange of sex for money remains illegal. Police monitor escort ads for coded language implying sexual services.
How does law enforcement approach prostitution?
Green Bay PD uses a dual strategy of sting operations and diversion programs. Vice units conduct monthly “john stings” using online decoys and street operations, arresting 112 clients in 2022. The “John School” diversion program offers first-time offenders education about trafficking and STIs instead of prosecution. For sex workers, the LEAD program (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) connects low-level offenders with social services rather than jail.
Trafficking investigations prioritize victim identification over prosecution – officers use “soft interview” techniques in dedicated rooms at the police station. Since 2019, all Green Bay officers receive trauma-informed response training. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the “P3 Tips” app, with 40% of prostitution arrests originating from community reports.
What should I do if approached for paid sex?
Firmly decline and report the solicitation to police non-emergency (920) 448-3200. Document details like location, physical descriptions, and vehicle plates without engaging. In hotel settings, notify management immediately – most chains like Lodge Kohler train staff to handle such incidents. If solicited online, screenshot the interaction before blocking the profile.
Avoid confrontations that could escalate to violence. Businesses near high-solicitation areas should install lighting and cameras as deterrents. Community members can support by volunteering with outreach programs like Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP) USA’s Green Bay chapter, which provides crisis intervention.