Understanding Prostitution in Parkland, Washington

Parkland, Washington, specifically areas along Pacific Avenue (SR-7), has a documented history of street-based sex work activity. This complex issue intersects with law enforcement strategies, public health concerns, socioeconomic factors, and significant community impact. Unlike some areas with designated “tolerance zones,” prostitution remains illegal throughout Pierce County. This guide examines the realities, responses, and resources surrounding this persistent challenge in Parkland.

Where is prostitution most visible in Parkland today?

Pacific Avenue (State Route 7), particularly sections between Spanaway and Tacoma, remains the primary corridor associated with street-level solicitation. Activity often concentrates near motels, gas stations, and industrial areas offering relative seclusion, especially during evening and late-night hours.

While Pacific Avenue is the most recognized hotspot, enforcement efforts have sometimes displaced activity to adjacent residential streets or nearby commercial zones. The transient nature means specific corners or blocks can fluctuate in activity levels based on police presence and other factors. Online solicitation via websites and apps has also reduced the absolute visibility of street-based sex work compared to past decades, but it hasn’t eliminated it entirely in this corridor.

How do Parkland police handle prostitution?

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department (which contracts police services for Parkland) employs a combination of targeted patrols, undercover sting operations (“John stings”), and collaboration with social services. Enforcement targets both individuals soliciting sex (often charged with Patronizing a Prostitute) and those offering sex (often charged with Prostitution).

What happens if someone is arrested for prostitution in Parkland?

Arrests typically lead to misdemeanor charges. Consequences include fines, potential jail time (especially for repeat offenses), and a criminal record. Increasingly, law enforcement and prosecutors work with diversion programs. These programs, like those connected to Pierce County’s Community Connections, may offer individuals the chance to avoid prosecution by agreeing to engage with counseling, substance abuse treatment, housing assistance, or job training.

Are there “John Schools” or similar programs?

Yes. Pierce County has periodically implemented “John Schools” (First Offender Programs). These educational programs target individuals arrested for soliciting prostitution. Attendees learn about the legal consequences, the link to sex trafficking, public health risks (STIs), and the exploitative nature and community harm associated with the commercial sex trade. Completion often results in reduced charges or fines.

What are the major health and safety risks?

Street-based sex work carries significant inherent dangers. Sex workers face elevated risks of violence (assault, rape, murder), sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV, and substance abuse issues. Lack of access to healthcare and fear of police interaction can prevent individuals from seeking help or reporting crimes.

Are trafficking victims involved?

Absolutely. While some individuals engage in sex work autonomously, evidence shows that a portion of activity in areas like Pacific Avenue involves victims of sex trafficking. Traffickers exploit vulnerabilities (poverty, addiction, homelessness, immigration status) through force, fraud, or coercion. Identifying and assisting trafficking victims within the broader context of prostitution is a critical focus for law enforcement and social service agencies like the Pierce County Human Services Department and the Rescue: Freedom Project.

What resources are available for sex workers?

Several Tacoma/Pierce County organizations offer support:

• Community Connections Tacoma-Pierce County: Provides behavioral health services, housing support, and connections to resources.
• Helping Hand House: Focuses on homelessness prevention and support, a key factor for many.
• Planned Parenthood (Tacoma Health Center): Offers confidential sexual and reproductive health services, including STI testing/treatment.
• Tacoma Needle Exchange: Harm reduction services for those struggling with substance use.

Many organizations practice harm reduction, meeting individuals where they are without judgment to provide life-saving services and build trust.

How does prostitution impact Parkland residents?

The visible presence of sex work generates substantial community concern. Residents report issues like:

• Increased crime: Associated drug dealing, theft, vandalism, and occasional violence.
• Public nuisance: Discarded condoms, needles, loitering, noise, and solicitation witnessed by residents (including children).
• Property values: Perception of the area as unsafe or undesirable can negatively impact home values and deter business investment.
• Fear and discomfort: Residents feeling unsafe walking or letting children play near certain areas.

What are residents and businesses doing?

Community action includes:

• Neighborhood Watch programs: Increased vigilance and reporting suspicious activity.
• Business Improvement Districts (BIDs): Collaborating on security measures (lighting, cameras) and clean-up efforts.
• Advocacy: Pressuring local government and law enforcement for increased resources and effective strategies.
• Supporting social services: Recognizing that long-term solutions require addressing root causes like addiction and poverty.

The tension between demanding enforcement and supporting compassionate solutions for vulnerable individuals is a constant theme.

What is the history behind prostitution in Parkland?

Pacific Avenue’s role as a major transportation artery (connecting Tacoma to military bases like JBLM and rural areas) historically contributed to its development as a corridor for adult-oriented businesses and associated sex work. Decades of concentrated poverty, limited economic opportunity, and the presence of cheap motels created an environment where street-based prostitution could take root. While the scale may have fluctuated and shifted geographically over time (e.g., changes in Tacoma’s “Track” area pushing activity south), Pacific Avenue in Parkland/Spanaway has remained a persistent focal point.

How has gentrification affected it?

Development and revitalization efforts in Tacoma and along parts of Pacific Avenue have sometimes displaced sex work activity further south into Parkland and Spanaway. New construction, rising property values, and increased residential presence in previously industrial areas create pressure, pushing the visible manifestations of street-based sex work into remaining pockets of lower-income neighborhoods or less-developed sections, making it a continually evolving issue for Parkland.

What are potential solutions beyond enforcement?

Experts increasingly advocate for multi-faceted approaches (“Nordic Model” influences):

• Increasing Exit Services: Dramatically scaling up accessible, trauma-informed drug treatment, mental health care, secure housing, and job training specifically for those wanting to leave sex work.
• Stronger Focus on Demand: Sustained enforcement and robust “John School” programs targeting buyers to reduce profitability.
• Enhanced Victim Identification: Training law enforcement, healthcare workers, and social services to better identify trafficking victims and connect them with specialized services, not jail.
• Community Investment: Addressing underlying socioeconomic factors through economic development, affordable housing, and youth programs in vulnerable neighborhoods.
• Harm Reduction Expansion: Ensuring access to healthcare, safe needle exchanges, and outreach workers to reduce immediate dangers for those still engaged.

There’s no quick fix. Long-term success requires sustained funding, collaboration between law enforcement, social services, and the community, and a willingness to tackle complex root causes.

How can I report suspicious activity or get help?

Emergencies or Crime in Progress: Always call 911.

Non-Emergency Suspicious Activity: Contact the Pierce County Sheriff’s Non-Emergency Line: (253) 798-4721.

To Report Potential Human Trafficking:

• National Human Trafficking Hotline: Call 1-888-373-7888 or Text BEFREE (233733).
• Washington State Office of Attorney General: https://www.atg.wa.gov/human-trafficking

For Individuals Seeking Help to Exit Sex Work/Trafficking:

• Community Connections Tacoma-Pierce County: (253) 396-5800
• Rescue: Freedom International (Tacoma): https://rescuefreedom.org
• National Human Trafficking Hotline (Above)