ACLU to Newark: Stop arresting city's prostitutes

The New Jersey ACLU is slamming the city's police department for a sting operation that netted 13 prostitution-related arrests this weekend, arguing that the department is wasting its time targeting "consenting" adults.

The arrests, according to a lengthy statement from ACLU-NJ Executive Director Udi Ofer, "raise concerns yet again about Newark's embrace of failed and destructive 'Broken Windows' policing strategies."

"Using our criminal justice system to harass, arrest and incarcerate consenting adults who agree to exchange sex for money is a poor use of the NPD's limited resources," he said.

The ACLU has long been critical of the Newark department's policing tactics. The lobbying group filed the complaint that launched a three-year federal investigation into the department. The resulting Department of Justice report prompted a consent decree calling for sweeping reforms, and an independent monitor overseeing the changes.

[link to www.nj.com]