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If you read The Joliet Herald News on Oct. 31, you might have seen the story about prostitution busts that were made over the previous weekend. Downtown Joliet residents had been complaining about prostitution and law enforcement decided to do something about it. The Herald News also decided to do its part by listing the names of the men, or "johns," arrested for soliciting prostitutes. There were around 30, ranging in age from 18 to 72.

Now if having your name listed wasn't bad enough, these men were even further embarrassed by having their ages and addresses published with their names, leaving no doubt to friends, family and neighbors the identity of those arrested. Perhaps a little public humiliation will curb their appetite to pay for sex - or at least make them think twice before doing so again.

But it wasn't just men arrested in this sting. About 20 women, from ages 24 to 55 were busted for prostitution in this undercover operation "Project Streetsweeper." They, too, had their names, ages and addresses listed in the paper. Are these women humiliated? Maybe so, maybe not.

Consider another perspective - The joliet Herald News essentially gave these women free advertising. Men looking to pay for sex now have a list of women known to be prostitutes. No longer do these men have to cruise the downtown streets of Joliet looking for an anonymous prostitute. These men now not only have the women's names, but they also have their addresses, enabling them to walk up to the door at any time and solicit sex for money or, perhaps, call ahead for an appointment.

In my opinion, this paper has put these women, and possibly their children, in danger. Sure, we can argue all day that these women put themselves in danger being a prostitute in the first place, and I wouldn't disagree with you. Making the choice to be a prostitute comes with consequences ranging from disease to jail time.

By publishing this information about these women, this paper has added increased danger as a consequence to being a prostitute. I envision many of you writing to OpenLine or e-mailing me to tell me that they deserve it.

Some of these women, no doubt, feel remorseful. This arrest may be a wakeup call to many of them. Do we really need to publish their addresses to invite the crazy sex stalkers to pay them a personal visit?

Learn more about this author, Adam Woodworth.
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