Community Collaboration at The Buffalo John School Jacquelyn Andula RN, BSN, and Cecelia Kohlmeier, RN, MSN The Erie County Health Department, Preventive Health Services, Buffalo, NY

Community Individuals Involved The Erie County Health Department The Erie County District Attorney Project Reach Former Prostitute Drug and Sex Addictions Counselor

The Erie County Health Department Presents a health component at The John School Leads a lecture and discussion on Sexually Transmitted Diseases Stresses the unknown danger of STD’s to sexual partners Presented by Jacquelyn Andula,RN, Public Health Nurse and Educator

The Erie County District Attorney’s Office Arranges attendance at The John School with the courts Informs Johns of their legal rights in a class at the John School Offers most Johns an ACD after attending the John School Presented by Michael Drmacich, Assistant District Attorney

Project Reach Provides a lecture and discussion about HIV and AIDS Provided by a male NY State Certified HIV counselor in a man to man manner Provides education in a harm reduction model Presented by William Smith

Former Prostitute Provided by the same individual every class. She is co-director of the school Speaks about her experiences as a prostitute Explains how she felt about the Johns Explains that she has been HIV infected for sixteen years

Drug & Sex Addictions Counselor Provides information on the cycle of addiction Explores sex and drug addictions Explains the connection between sexual abuse as a child and addictive behaviors later in life Presented by Eli Pollinger, MSW and co-director of the John School

Two Major Components Operation Johnny and The John School

Operation Johnny History: In 1996 at the request of the Prostitution Task Force the Buffalo Police Narcotics and Vice Unit began a sting to combat street prostitution.

Operation Johnny (con’t) Male and female undercover detectives were assigned to arrest both prostitutes and their male counterparts known as “Johns.” This was to be a long term commitment not just a quick fix.

The John School Johns attend at request of the court Their fee of $100 covers all of the schools expenses. They may be allowed to pay less by a judge After completing the eight hour class they are normally granted an ACD--the charges are dismissed if they commit no crime for six months. The school costs approximately $1200 a month to run

Why We Are Different The John School has a non- threatening manner The attendees are treated as students and encouraged to get as much out of the day as possible Strong focus on health and effect on neighborhoods Refreshments are served Students are not belittled

Results of Operation Johnny Arrests increased six-fold Calls to 911 were reduced by nearly 50% The District Attorney and the courts established alternative sentencing Only available to first time offenders

Affects of Operation Johnny and the John School Recidivism Rates decreased Those arrested for solicitation had a recidivism rate of 8% Those allowed to attend the John school had a recidivism rate of %

Difficulties Encountered Having all city court judges agree with the sentencing program Contract dispute between the Buffalo Police Union and the Department led to The New York State Police providing the decoy Low school attendance can cause a financial shortfall