Northbrook police enforce these state laws rigorously. Engaging in prostitution or solicitation within the village limits can result in:

• Criminal Charges: Class A misdemeanor for a first offense (up to 364 days in jail, fines up to $2,500).
• Enhanced Penalties: Subsequent offenses or offenses near schools/parks can increase severity.
• Vehicle Impoundment: Vehicles used in solicitation offenses can be impounded under local ordinances.
• Court Mandates: Offenders may be required to attend educational programs or counseling.

Law enforcement focuses on deterrence through patrols and investigations targeting both buyers (“johns”) and sellers.

The village’s approach involves diversion and support where appropriate:

• Social Service Referrals: Police may connect individuals with organizations offering housing assistance, substance abuse treatment (e.g., through partnerships with groups like Josselyn Center or local health departments), mental health counseling, and job training programs instead of solely pursuing prosecution, especially for those coerced or trafficked.
• Human Trafficking Awareness: Officers receive training to identify potential victims of human trafficking, a crime often linked to prostitution. The focus shifts to victim protection and prosecution of traffickers.
• Community Outreach: Local non-profits and faith-based organizations often provide outreach, offering essentials and information about exiting exploitation.

Resources like the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) and local domestic violence shelters (e.g., WINGS Program) are vital partners.

Strategies include:

• Targeted Patrols: Increased police presence in areas where complaints about solicitation or suspicious activity related to prostitution have been reported.
• Neighborhood Watch: Encouraging residents to report suspicious behavior (e.g., unusual car traffic, apparent street negotiations) to the Northbrook Police Department non-emergency line.
• Business Collaboration: Working with hotels, motels, and businesses to recognize and report signs of potential trafficking or illegal activity occurring on their premises.
• Online Monitoring: Investigating online platforms sometimes used for solicitation, though this requires significant resources and jurisdictional coordination.
• Ordinances: Enforcing laws against public indecency, disorderly conduct, and loitering with intent to solicit prostitution.

Residents concerned about specific locations or activities should contact the Northbrook Police directly.

Finding help is crucial. Key resources include:

• The National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” to 233733 (BEFREE). Confidential, 24/7, connects to local services.
• WINGS Program, Inc.: Provides safe housing, counseling, and support services for victims of trafficking and domestic violence in the Chicago area, serving the North Shore.
• YWCA Metropolitan Chicago: Offers support services, counseling, and advocacy for women, including survivors of violence and exploitation.
• Thorn: Focuses on combating child sexual exploitation online, providing resources and technology solutions.
• Local Substance Abuse/Mental Health Providers: Organizations like The Josselyn Center (Northfield) offer counseling and treatment addressing underlying issues often connected to exploitation.

Law enforcement can also connect individuals with these resources. Seeking help is the first step towards safety and recovery.

Community involvement is essential:

• Report Responsibly: If you witness activity that appears to be solicitation for prostitution or seems suspicious (e.g., individuals appearing controlled, fearful, or engaged in obvious street transactions), contact the Northbrook Police non-emergency line. Do not confront individuals.
• Support Local Services: Volunteer or donate to organizations providing housing, addiction treatment, mental health counseling, and job training in the area. Strong social services are a preventative measure.
• Educate Yourself & Others: Learn about the signs of human trafficking and the realities of exploitation. Challenge stigma and understand the complex factors involved.
• Support At-Risk Youth Programs: Advocate for and support programs in schools and the community that build resilience and provide positive alternatives for young people.
• Promote Economic Opportunity: Support initiatives that create pathways out of poverty, a significant factor increasing vulnerability to exploitation.

A proactive, compassionate, and informed community is key to long-term safety and well-being for all Northbrook residents.

Understanding this distinction is vital for law enforcement and support services:

• Consensual Adult Sex Work (Illegal in IL): Involves adults allegedly choosing to exchange sex for money or goods, though this choice is often constrained by circumstances like poverty or addiction. It remains a crime.
• Human Trafficking (Severe Felony): Defined under both federal (TVPA) and Illinois (720 ILCS 5/10-9) law. It occurs when a person is recruited, harbored, transported, or obtained through:
  • Force: Physical violence or restraint.
  • Fraud: False promises about jobs, relationships, etc.
  • Coercion: Threats, psychological abuse, debt bondage, or abuse of legal process.

  Minors induced into commercial sex are automatically considered trafficking victims, regardless of force/fraud/coercion.

Northbrook police prioritize identifying trafficking victims, offering them protection and services, and aggressively pursuing traffickers. The legal consequences for trafficking are far more severe than for solicitation or prostitution.

For accurate and official information:

• Northbrook Police Department Website: (northbrook.il.us/departments/police) Access crime statistics (often broken down by category, though specific vice stats may be part of broader categories), press releases, safety tips, and information on community policing initiatives. They may also provide annual reports.
• Village of Northbrook Website: (northbrook.il.us) Find Village Board meeting agendas and minutes where public safety issues, including crime trends and police department updates, are often discussed. Access community resources and contact information for village officials.
• Illinois State Police Crime Statistics: The ISP may compile and publish broader county-level crime data.
• FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program: Provides national crime data, which can be filtered by state and sometimes locality.

Relying on official sources ensures access to the most accurate and reliable information regarding law enforcement activities and crime trends in Northbrook.