Atlanta is Part of National Crackdown on Sexual Exploitation of Children

Atlanta was one of 23 cities raided in a nationwide sex trade bust. More than 45 suspected teenage prostitutes have been rescued, some as young as 13.

Federal agents and local police arrested more than 50 alleged pimps over the three-night initiative called “Operation Cross Country.” This is part of a federal program to crack down on the sexual exploitation of children.

An FBI spokesman says the teenagers are the victims of prostitution. Many are runaways with no family support.

(AP)

Legislation Targets Strip Clubs

Some state lawmakers are hitting the main stage with a proposal to tax patrons of strip clubs in Georgia. The proposed "pole tax" would be used to help offset steep budget cuts to state programs for sex abuse victims. Lawmakers on Thursday will also propose raising the minimum age for exotic dancers in the state from 18 to 21.

The proposals came from a study committee that looked last year at the growing problem of child prostitution in Georgia. Texas imposed a similar strip club fee in 2008 that a judge declared unconstitutional. Georgia sponsors say they have addressed those concerns in the state bill.

Crackdown on child prostitution continues, slowly

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin says she is still working to keep the sometimes-taboo problem of child prostitution in the public's eye, but progress has been slow.

"There is no question in my mind that we're just beginning this campaign," Franklin told city officials and child advocates at a breakfast meeting Tuesday. "People of good will are still completely in the dark about what they can do to protect a 14-year-old girl who lives in the city of Atlanta."

Franklin announced last year the "Dear John" campaign to crack down on the men who solicit underage sex. Since then, she has starred in public awareness campaigns and convinced private donors to fund police initiatives and treatment centers. She has talked about starting a special court for johns.

But Investigator Kelleita Thurmond of the Atlanta Police Department's vice squad told Franklin and the rest of the audience that arrests have been hard to come by. Thurmond says the unit has been hampered by staffing shortages and security worries. Furthermore, she says, much of the crime happens on the Internet and out of public view.