Sheriff’s Department Releases ‘Dear John’ Prostitution Letter

July 7, 2009

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has released a copy of a letter that will be sent to the registered owners of the vehicles involved in arrests for violations of Florida prostitution  laws. The letters will be sent to vehicle owners along with a copy of Florida Statute 796.07 which prohibits prostitution.

The letter notifies a vehicle owner that a vehicle registered in their name was involved in a prostitution arrest and will name the person arrested in the vehicle. It also notifies the vehicle owner that their vehicle could be seized when involved in some crimes.

It also advises of the risks associated with sexually transmitted diseases and advises testing for STDs if involved with the person arrested.

Download the letter here (pdf).

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Comments

8 Responses to “Sheriff’s Department Releases ‘Dear John’ Prostitution Letter”

  1. Barricade on July 9th, 2009 6:54 am

    Great idea but poor execution. Under Florida law LEO’s can not seize a vehicle for a misdemeanor crime which prostitiution is. Col. Dickey being an attorney should have picked that up. I think releasing mugshots to the local media and putting them up for all to see would be more effective.

  2. Bob on July 8th, 2009 4:20 pm

    I admire Sheriff Morgan for taking a stance and politically it sounds real good. We all must understand that this is truly the oldest profession known to man. It will be running rampant at the end of time and no one is going to stop it. All this time could be spent on the violent crimes and drug suppression.

  3. Jay on July 8th, 2009 2:30 pm

    I’d say that HIC is a typo for HIV since the letters are next to each other.

  4. AC on July 8th, 2009 10:32 am

    This is not “punishing” those arrested. It is simply notifying the owners of vehicles that their vehicles can be seized for being used in criminal activity. The same thing is done when the vehicle is used in drug related activity by a third party. The vehicle seizure is not necessarily dependant upon conviction, as it is technically a civil action. You should be aware that law enforcement can seize the vehicle without notification of the owner in most cases, and this is a courtesy of the sheriff’s department to notify the owners instead of seizing their vehicle.

  5. Linda on July 8th, 2009 8:44 am

    WOW! What a great idea. Thank you Sheriff Morgan for looking out for both men and women alike. I think your letter will wake some people up in a good way.

  6. GRITS on July 8th, 2009 12:00 am

    Wait until they have been convicted? For WHAT? There is no doubt what they were doing when they were arrested, who needs a jury to say they’re guilty?

    I think that letter is absolutely awesome. Picture this: your husband-partner-boyfriend-significant other-whatever borrows your car one night to go check on a job offer he’s heard about. He disappears, comes in the next day with guilt written all over his face, but won’t admit to anything.

    Then you get this letter from the Sheriff’s department. A light bulb goes on over your head. You kick him to the curb and save yourself a lot of future grief.

    Thank you, Sheriff Morgan. This letter will enlighten a lot of women who otherwise may never find out what they so desperately need to know.

    If you need any help with postage, just let me know!

  7. Reallyme on July 7th, 2009 8:27 pm

    Sure, let’s punish those arrested before the trial.
    Why can’t he wait until they have been convicted?

  8. Brenda on July 7th, 2009 6:19 pm

    I read the letter. I’m a medical transcriptionist. I was just wondering what HIC is an acronym for in the third paragraph. I checked my resources and did not find anything. Perhaps it is a typo for HIV. Nonetheless, this is a good idea.