Report to the Legislature - Criminal Penalty Fees Related to Sexual Exploitation Crimes (January 7, 2020)
Summary
Criminal Penalty Fees Related to Sexual Exploitation Crimes per RCW 43.280.100, a report to the Legislature dated January 7, 2020, from the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy of the Washington State Department of Commerce, with Lisa Brown as Director. It is the sixth annual report on fee revenue and expenditures for state fiscal year 2019 (SFY 2019). The executive summary states that if judges ordered the full fee amount for all crimes, potential revenue would total $474,350, while judges in superior, district and municipal courts ordered $257,496. The table of contents lists sections on fee assessments and crime rates and how jurisdictions reported expending the funds, with Appendix C on King County's approach.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
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“Report to the Legislature - Criminal Penalty Fees Related to Sexual Exploitation Crimes (January 7, 2020).”
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Criminal Penalty Fees
Related to Sexual
Exploitation Crimes
Per RCW 43.280.100
January 7, 2020
REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE
Lisa Brown, Director
Acknowledgments
Washington State Department of Commerce
Diane Klontz, assistant director, Community Services and Housing Division
Rick Torrance, managing director, Office of Crime Victims Advocacy
Alice Zillah, section manager, Research Services, Community Assistance and Research Unit
Rick Torrance, managing director, 360-725-2059, richard.torrance@commerce.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Commerce
OFFICE OF CRIME VICTIMS ADVOCACY
1011 Plum St. SE
P.O. Box 42525
Olympia, WA 98504-2525
www.commerce.wa.gov
For people with disabilities, this report is available on request in other formats. To submit a request, please
call 360.725.4000 (TTY 360.586.0772)
CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 2
Table of Contents
Executive Summary........................................................................................................................... 2
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Fee Assessments and Crime Rates .................................................................................................... 5
How Jurisdictions Reported Expending the Funds ............................................................................ 11
Appendix A: Distribution of Criminal Penalty Fees............................................................................ 14
Appendix B: Courts with Convictions for Applicable Charges............................................................ 15
Appendix C: King County's Approach ............................................................................................... 18
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 1
Executive Summary
Overview
In 2013, the Washington State Legislature levied additional fees on the crime of commercial sexual
abuse of a minor (CSAM) and other sexual exploitation crimes. The fees, ordered on persons convicted
of crimes, are in addition to other criminal penalties, including statutory fines and jail time. Local
jurisdictions retain the majority of the revenue from these fees to fund preventative efforts, services for
victims, and law enforcement activities to reduce the commercial sale of sex. Judges may reduce
some of the fees by up to two-thirds if the judge finds, on the record, that an offender cannot pay.
Courts may not entirely waive any of the fees.
This report, for state fiscal year 2019 (SFY 2019), is the sixth annual report prepared by the Washington
State Department of Commerce (Commerce) on the fee revenue and expenditures related to this set of
crimes. See the Introduction on page 6 for the full statutory requirement for this report.
Key Findings
In state fiscal year 2019:
Ten courts reported $100 or less collected during SFY 2019, and therefore they were not surveyed.
Through email and phone contacts, researchers surveyed the 17 jurisdictions that collected greater
amounts to find out how cities and counties used the funds. Fourteen courts responded.
Law enforcement officers made 13% fewer arrests for sexual exploitation crimes compared to SFY
2018. The number of convictions, however, remained close to the same -- 358 in SFY 2019,
compared to 363 in SFY 2018.
In SFY 2019, 68 courts in Washington handed down convictions for the crimes that bear the
additional fee. Of these courts, 23 levied the statutorily required fees. Twenty-one courts collected
revenue toward payment of the fees.
On balance, Washington state courts levied 54% of the total amount of penalty fees possible for
convictions of sexual exploitation crimes.
If judges ordered persons convicted of crimes to pay the full fee amount for all crimes, potential
revenue would total $474,350. Instead, judges in superior, district and municipal courts ordered
$257,496. Out of the amount levied, courts collected a total of $174,891.
As in the prior five years, courts in King County both levied and collected the majority of the fees –
92% and 96% of the totals, respectively.
Conclusion
As in recent years, it does not appear that courts are ordering persons convicted of crimes to pay the
amounts that statutes require for their crimes. It is beyond the scope of this report to investigate why
many courts are not imposing these fees. Further research and judicial outreach could lead to a better
understanding of the reasons courts do not consistently levy the fees.
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 2
Introduction
Background
In 2013, the Washington State Legislature passed Chapter 121, Laws of 2013 (ESHB 1291), concerning
prostitution and the commercial sexual abuse of minors, and directed Commerce to:
"… prepare and submit an annual report to the legislature on the amount of revenue collected by local
jurisdictions under RCW 9.68A.105, 9A.88.120, or 9A.88.140 and the expenditure of that revenue [RCW
43.280.100]."
The three statutes listed above levy fees on convictions related to prostitution and the commercial
sexual exploitation of children. The fees are in addition to other penalties, including statutory fines and
jail time. Courts levy the fees on persons convicted of crimes who have entered into a statutory or non-
statutory diversion agreement 1 because of arrests for one of the applicable crimes. Table 1 lists the
statutes, the additional penalty, and the crimes to which the penalty applies.
Statutes 9.68A.105, 9A.88.120, and 9A.88.140 describe how jurisdictions must use the revenue from
the fees collected:
Cities and counties must spend at least 50% of the revenue on prevention and rehabilitation
services for victims. Prevention includes education programs for persons convicted of crimes, such
as “john school,” which provides curriculum on the sexual exploitation of women, legal
ramifications, and confronting and healing from sexual addiction. Rehabilitative services for victims
include mental health and substance abuse counseling, parenting skills, housing relief, education,
vocational training, drop-in centers, and employment counseling.
Jurisdictions may use up to 48% for local efforts to reduce the commercial sale of sex, including,
but not limited to, increasing enforcement of commercial sex laws.
Two percent (2%) of the revenue must be remitted quarterly to Commerce, together with a report
detailing the fees assessed, the revenue received, and how that revenue was spent.
Judges may reduce some of the fees if the court finds, on the record, that the offender does not have
the ability to pay the fee. In those cases, judges may only reduce the fee by up to two-thirds.
Courts may not make any reductions to the fees attached to vehicle impoundment. Impounding
agencies collect these fees if a law enforcement officer impounds a vehicle used in the commission of
a commercial sexual abuse of a minor (CSAM) crime or prostitution-related crime, or if other conditions
are met. The owner must pay the fee before redeeming the vehicle. If the defendant subsequently is
found not guilty of the crime, the defendant is entitled to a refund of the fee.
1 RCW 9A.88.120 defines statutory or non-statutory agreement as an agreement under RCW 13.40.080 or any written
agreement between a person accused of an offense and a court, county, or city prosecutor, whereby the person agrees to
fulfill certain conditions in lieu of prosecution.
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 3
Table 1: Statutes Modified by Chapter 121, Laws of 2013
Amount by
Which Penalty
Additional Penalty Can be
Statute Amount Crimes to Which Penalty Applies Reduced
9.68A.100 – Commercial Sexual Abuse
of a Minor (CSAM)
9.68A.105 $5,000 The court may not
9.68A.101 – Promoting CSAM
reduce, waive, or
9.68A.102 – Promoting travel for CSAM
suspend payment
of all or part of the
$50 9A.88.010 – Indecent exposure fee assessed
unless it finds, on
$50 9A.88.030 – Prostitution the record, that the
adult offender
$1,500 for a first offense does not have the
$2,500 for second offense 9A.88.090 – Permitting prostitution ability to pay, in
9A.88.120 $5,000 for third or greater 9A.88.110 – Patronizing a prostitute which case it may
offense reduce the fee by
an amount up to
two-thirds of the
$3,000 for first offense 9A.88.070 – Promoting prostitution in
maximum
$6,000 for second offense the first degree
allowable fee.
$10,000 for third or greater 9A.88.080 – Promoting prostitution in
offense the second degree
9A.88.140 – Vehicle impoundment fine
for:
9A.88.110 – Patronizing a prostitute
9A.88.070 – Promoting prostitution in
$500 the first degree
9A.88.080 – Promoting prostitution in
the second degree
9A.88.085 – Promoting travel for May not be waived
9A.88.140 prostitution or reduced
9A.88.140 – Vehicle impoundment fine
for:
9.68A.100 – CSAM
$2,500
9.68A.101 – Promoting CSAM
9.68A.102 – Promoting travel for
CSAM
Source: Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 4
Fee Assessments and Crime Rates
In state fiscal year 2019, 68 courts in Washington handed down convictions for the crimes that bear the
additional penalty fee. Of these, 23 courts -- just 34% of the total -- levied the statutorily required fees.
This indicates that many courts in Washington are not assessing the fees, or are levying only a fraction
of what they could.
Kitsap County had 19 convictions for offenses ranging from indecent exposure to commercial
sexual abuse of a minor (CSAM). If judges had levied all of the fees possible, it would have totaled
$46,450. However, only $3,467 was imposed on persons convicted of crimes.
King County Superior Court, which levies and collects far more than most courts, assessed only
23% of the total potential fees -- $58,339 levied out of a maximum possible of $251,500.
Pierce County Superior Court had seven convictions for the crime of CSAM, each of which carries a
$5,000 fee. However, the court only levied $3,000, less than 10% of the maximum possible of
$35,000.
Spokane County Superior Court had four convictions for CSAM, for a total of $20,000 in possible
fees, but did not levy any amount at all.
Jefferson County Superior Court had three convictions for CSAM, for a total of $15,000 possible,
but levied only $1,667.
Overall, courts assessed 54% of the total possible fee amount – $257,496 out of a potential $474,350.
As in the previous five years, courts in King County both levied and collected the great majority of the
fees. It is beyond the scope of this report to investigate why many courts are not imposing these fees.
Table 2 lists the number of arrests and convictions for the relevant crimes, the maximum possible
amount of fees judges can assess for those crimes, the actual fees assessed, and the fees collected
for each county in Washington. Appendix B contains a complete list of all courts that imposed
convictions for the applicable crimes, and the amounts assessed and collected.
Table 2: Arrests, Convictions, and Fees by County - State Fiscal Year 2019
Arrests for Convictions for Fees Fees
County Applicable Charges Applicable Charges Assessed Collected
Adams 1 0 $0 $0
Asotin 7 4 $0 $0
Benton 16 7 $5,000 $494
Chelan 5 2 $0 $727
Clallam 14 11 $0 $0
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 5
Arrests for Convictions for Fees Fees
County Applicable Charges Applicable Charges Assessed Collected
Clark 42 13 $5,000 $555
Cowlitz 15 4 $0 $0
Douglas 0 2 $0 $0
Ferry 1 0 $0 $0
Franklin 18 2 $3,000 $2,000
Grant 6 1 $0 $0
Grays
13 3 $0 $33
Harbor
Island 1 0 $0 $6
Jefferson 4 4 $1,667 $0
King 526 159 $235,738 $168,112
Kitsap 21 19 $3,467 $550
Kittitas 5 0 $0 $0
Lewis 7 7 $50 $50
Mason 1 0 $0 $0
Okanogan 7 4 $17 $0
Pend Oreille 0 1 $0 $0
Pierce 117 57 $3,142 $1,234
San Juan 0 1 $0 $0
Skagit 35 4 $0 $0
Skamania 1 0 $0 $0
Snohomish 77 10 $120 $189
Spokane 87 9 $0 $796
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 6
Arrests for Convictions for Fees Fees
County Applicable Charges Applicable Charges Assessed Collected
Stevens 2 0 $0 $0
Thurston 54 10 $50 $0
Walla Walla 6 2 $0 $0
Whatcom 16 11 $0 $0
Whitman 5 1 $50 $0
Yakima 21 10 $195 $145
Totals 1,131 358 $257,496 $174,891
Sources: the Administrative Office of the Courts, Washington State Patrol, King County Superior Court, and Seattle Municipal Court. Columbia,
Garfield, Klickitat, Lincoln, Pacific, and Wahkiakum counties had no arrests, convictions, or fees collected during state fiscal year 2019 and are
therefore not included.
The total amount of potential fees is determined by calculating the convictions for each crime category.
Table 3 illustrates the total amount of potential fees compared to the actual amount courts levied.
Table 3: Amounts Levied as a Percentage of Total Potential Fees
$900,000
$822,100
$780,959
$800,000
$700,000 $669,850 $645,900
$600,000
$507,550
$474,350
$500,000
$400,000 $369,307
$300,000 $249,449 $252,592 $253,013 $257,496
$213,433
$200,000
$100,000
$-
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Total Possible Fees Amount of Fees Levied
Sources: the Administrative Office of the Courts, Washington State Patrol, King County Superior Court, and Seattle Municipal Court.
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 7
Background on Fees and Payments
Many individuals convicted of crimes do not pay fees all at once but instead enter into a payment plan
with the court. As they pay off the fees, court clerks code them into the Judicial Information System
(JIS) and Odyssey system used by most courts in Washington. Therefore, revenue from fees can be
greater during a given year than the amount of fees assessed, as offenders gradually pay off their
penalties.
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) is responsible for establishing new codes in JIS Odyssey
and informing courts about which codes to use. AOC codes data in these systems to the fund account,
rather than to the statute applicable to the crime. As a result, it is not possible to separate the funds
collected by the offense committed.
Once court clerks receive the revenue and allocate it to a code, the city or county treasurer is
responsible for establishing an account for the monies. Some cities contract with their county to act as
treasurer for the jurisdiction. Then, the jurisdiction must decide which department, office, or official is
responsible for deciding how to spend the funds, allocating the amounts according to the guidance
established by the Legislature, and ensuring that the quarterly reports are sent to Commerce.
The Washington State Patrol (WSP) maintains data by county on the number of arrests and convictions
for all crimes in Washington. Some cities, notably Seattle, have municipal codes used for misdemeanor
offenses and which effectively replace the applicable state statute for that crime in the city’s data
system. Therefore, the researchers for this report obtained data on arrests, cases, and convictions for
crimes committed within the city of Seattle from the Seattle Municipal Court.
Because the applicable crimes include both misdemeanors and felonies, the courts impacted include
municipal and district courts (known as courts of limited jurisdiction, or CLJs), and superior courts,
which hear serious felonies.
Certain courts, including the Seattle Municipal Court, do not use JIS or Odyssey. Additionally, some
municipal courts contract with their county district courts to collect fees on their behalf. For instance,
King County District Court contracts with the cities of Beaux Arts, Bellevue, Burien, Carnation,
Covington, Duvall, Kenmore, Redmond, Sammamish, Shoreline, Skykomish, and Woodinville. The
information on fees collected and assessed by those cities is merged with the data for King County
District Court.
Crime Rates
In SFY 2019, law enforcement officers made 13% fewer arrests for sexual exploitation crimes
compared to SFY 2018. The number of convictions, however, remained close to the same - 358 in SFY
2019, compared to 363 in SFY 2018.
Table 4 lists the number of arrests, cases, and convictions for these crimes. The table also includes the
crime of trafficking that carries an additional $10,000 penalty fee. However, the fee for trafficking is not
subject to the same dispersal as those specified under RCW 9.68A.105, RCW 9A.88.120, and RCW
9A.88.140.
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 8
Table 4: Statewide Arrests and Convictions Per-Crime - State Fiscal Year 2019
Number of Number of
Statute Charge Arrests Convictions
9.68A.100 Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor (CSAM) 60 30
9.68A.101 Promoting Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor 19 3
9.68A.102 Promoting Travel for Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor 5 1
9.68A.103 Permitting Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor 0 0
9A. 40.100 Trafficking 37 1
9A.88.010 Indecent Exposure 656 197
9A.88.030 Prostitution 67 20
9A.88.070 Promoting Prostitution in the First Degree 27 4
9A.88.080 Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree 55 79
9A.88.085 Promoting Travel for Prostitution (Vehicle Impoundment) 0 0
9A.88.090 Permitting Prostitution 1 4
9A.88.110 Patronizing a Prostitute 204 19
TOTAL 1,131 358
Source: The Washington State Patrol provided data on statewide arrests and convictions, and Seattle Municipal Court provided data on arrests
and convictions within the city of Seattle.
The relatively high number of arrests for trafficking – 37 – compared to the sole conviction suggests
that many of these cases are instead prosecuted for the lesser charge of promoting prostitution. In
addition, if an investigation reveals that the victim(s) was underage, the prosecutor may elect to press a
felony charge of CSAM instead of a trafficking charge. Finally, an arrest made in one year can lead to a
case that takes more than a year to prosecute and resolve, which explains why some charges have
fewer arrests than convictions in SFY 2019.
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 9
Table 5: Statewide Totals of Arrests and Convictions - 2014 through 2019
1,600
1,439
1,400
1,282 1,294
1243
1,187
1,200 1,131
1,000
800
600
490
418 418
349 363 358
400
200
0
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Number of arrests Number of convictions
Linear (Number of arrests) Linear (Number of convictions)
Source: The Washington State Patrol provided data on statewide arrests and convictions, and Seattle Municipal Court provided data on arrests
and convictions within the city of Seattle.
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 10
How Jurisdictions Reported Expending the Funds
Overview
In SFY 2019, 68 courts in Washington handed down convictions for the crimes that bear the additional
fee. Of these courts, 23 levied the statutorily required fees. Twenty-one courts collected revenue
towards payment of the fees. An additional eight courts collected revenue but did not assess fees,
which indicates the revenue was from persons convicted of crimes paying off fees levied in past years.
Ten courts reported $100 or less collected during SFY 2019, and therefore they were not surveyed.
Researchers surveyed the 17 jurisdictions that collected greater amounts through email and phone
contacts to determine how cities and counties used the funds.
As in previous years, jurisdictions were provided with a chart (Appendix A) showing the relevant
statutes and the statutory dispersal formula for the funds.
In most cases, it was necessary to speak with another department (for instance, the city or county
treasurer, the police department, or the prosecutor’s office) to learn whether the funds had been
allocated, and if so, how they had been spent.
Of the 17 courts contacted, 14 responded to the survey. The following information lists how each
jurisdiction described expending the funds.
Reports by Jurisdiction
Bellevue Municipal Court
Bellevue used the funds to pay for hotel lodging for several victims of suspected trafficking while their
cases were under investigation, and they were being connected to services.
Benton County Superior Court
Benton County has not spent any of the funds. The county plans to wait until more money accumulates
and then work with the community to decide how best to spend the funds.
Chelan County District Court
Chelan County has not yet expended the funds.
Clark County Superior Court
The Clark County Sheriff's Office uses the funds to supplement its work to address local prevention
efforts, victims' services, and law enforcement.
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 11
Federal Way Municipal Court
Federal Way used the funds for the police department's enforcement of laws to prevent sex
trafficking. The Federal Way Municipal Court also organized a meeting with the Coalition Against Sex
Trafficking and the court's judges, probation staff, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and conflict
attorneys. The same group is invited to participate in an upcoming two-day training on the EPIK Project,
a "mobilization strategy designed to engage men in the fight to end the demand for prostituted kids in
America."
King County (District and Superior Courts)
Please see Appendix C on page 22 for a discussion of King County's approach to prosecuting sexual
exploitation crimes, and using the revenue from fees for prevention and victim rehabilitation.
Kitsap County District Court
Kitsap County used the revenue from penalty fees to support the anti-trafficking activities of its
Prosecutor’s Office as well as advocacy and outreach efforts.
The Vice Unit within the Kitsap County Prosecutor’s Office handles all felony offenses involving human
trafficking, drugs and gang-related crimes. The felony human trafficking offenses prosecuted by this
unit include human trafficking, promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor, promoting prostitution
in the first and second degrees, and violent felonies that occur during the commission of trafficking-
related offenses. The Vice Unit also acts as a liaison between the Kitsap County Prosecutor’s Office
and the various drug and human trafficking enforcement agencies in Kitsap County.
In addition to the four attorneys in the Vice Unit, Kitsap County has a full-time investigator whose focus
is criminal occurrences related to human trafficking, drugs and gangs.
Kitsap County also supports advocacy services, which include emotional support for both underage
and adult victims of human trafficking. Lastly, community outreach and education activities include
providing technical assistance and training to community and faith-based organizations, government,
law enforcement officials, and others.
SeaTac Municipal Court
SeaTac has not yet expended the funds.
Seattle Municipal Court
In May 2018, the Seattle Human Services Department released a request for proposals for Gender-
Violence Victim Support Services. Through the competitive process, Seattle identified medical support
services for survivors as an unsupported gap in its funding process.
The grant award was contracted to the Harborview Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress to
support sexual assault examination, therapeutic services, hotline support and other victim-support-
related services from 2019 through 2022. Harborview is the only medical facility in King County
certified as a Community Sexual Assault Center. Harborview provides emergency and continuing care
for survivors of abuse and exploitation, many of whom are low income, homeless and chemically
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 12
dependent. Harborview is also a member of the city of Seattle Coordinated Effort Against Sexual
Exploitation (CEASE) coalition.
The grant to supply medical services to survivors, as well as other programs to curb sexual exploitation,
is funded in part from the criminal penalty fines paid by those convicted of the crimes outlined in this
report.
In state fiscal year 2019, Seattle law enforcement officers made about 58% of the arrests statewide for
patronizing a prostitute (the city is home to just under 10% of the state’s population). The high arrest
rate is partly because of the commitment from the Seattle Police Department (SPD) to focus law
enforcement efforts on arresting buyers of commercial sex rather than those being prostituted.
Seattle splits the revenue from these fines between its Police and Human Services departments. In
2019, the Seattle Police Department used the fine revenue for salaries and overtime for officers
conducting CSAM sting operations.
Spokane County Superior Court
The Spokane County Sheriff is a member of the Spokane Safe Streets Task Force. The Sherriff's Office
additionally has one full-time detective assigned to the FBI Human Trafficking/Sexually Exploited
Children Task Force, which includes prevention and intervention activities within its scope. Lastly, the
Spokane County Juvenile Court and the Spokane City Police Department provide employees for
Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Task Force.
Tukwila Municipal Court
Tukwila used the funds to conduct registered sex offender verification, an important element in
preventing sex offenders from becoming noncompliant with registration requirements. Tukwila Police
officers additionally participated in the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, as well as Operation Sweep
and Keep, a regional effort to locate sex-trafficked individuals. Funding was further dedicated to
training about ways to combat sex trafficking on social media, and for attendance at a conference on
domestic violence. Officers conducted compliance checks to combat lewd events and indecent
exposure at coffee stands. Finally, $1,333 was provided to the local drug abuse resistance education
(DARE) chapter to prevent the use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs, and violent behavior.
Yakima Municipal Court
Yakima has not yet expended the funds.
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 13
Appendix A: Distribution of Criminal Penalty Fees
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 14
Appendix B: Courts with Convictions for Applicable
Charges
Convictions
Fees Fees
County for Applicable
Assessed Collected
Court Charges
Aberdeen Municipal Court Grays Harbor County 1 $- $33.45
Asotin County District Court Asotin County 4
Auburn Municipal Court King County 0 $1,950.00 $1,712.22
Bellevue Municipal Court King County 0 $100.00 $7,393.17
Bellingham Municipal Court Whatcom County 5
Benton County District Court Benton County 4
Benton County Superior Court Benton County 3 $5,000.00 $493.90
Bonney Lake Municipal Court Pierce County 0 $50.00 $15.28
Bothell Municipal Court King County 1
Bremerton Municipal Court Kitsap County 2
Camas Municipal Court Clark County 2
Centralia Municipal Court Lewis County 3 $50.00 $50.00
Chehalis Municipal Court Lewis County 1
Chelan County District Court Chelan County 1 $- $726.91
Cheney Municipal Court Spokane County 1
Clallam County District Court Clallam County 7
Clallam County Superior Court Clallam County 4
Clark County District Court Clark County 4
Clark County Superior Court Clark County 7 $5,000.00 $555.12
Cowlitz County District Court Cowlitz County 2
Cowlitz County Superior Court Cowlitz County 2
Des Moines Municipal Court King County 3
Douglas County Superior County Douglas County 2
Everett Municipal Court Snohomish County 0 $- $75.00
Evergreen District Court Snohomish County 1
Federal Way Municipal Court King County 3 $- $1,270.73
Fife Municipal Court Pierce County 1 $- $100.00
Franklin County Superior Court Franklin County 2 $3,000.00 $2,000.00
Grant County District Court Grant County 1
Grays Harbor County Superior Grays Harbor County 2
Court
Island County District Court Island County 0 $- $5.74
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 15
Convictions
Fees Fees
County for Applicable
Assessed Collected
Court Charges
Issaquah Municipal Court King County 1
Jefferson County District Court Jefferson County 1
Jefferson County Superior Court Jefferson County 3 $1,666.67
Kenmore/Shoreline District Court King County 1
Kent Municipal Court King County 12 $18,750.00 $14,011.45
King County District Court* King County 14 $250.00 $4,592.26
King County Superior Court** King County 92 $58,338.68 $15,482.79
Kirkland Municipal Court King County 2
Kitsap County District Court Kitsap County 5 $116.50 $507.82
Kitsap County Superior Court Kitsap County 12 $3,350.17 $42.59
Lakewood Municipal Court Pierce County 8
Lewis County Superior Court Lewis County 3
Lynnwood Municipal Court Snohomish County 2
Marysville Municipal Court Snohomish County 2 $120.00 $100.00
Okanogan County District Court Okanogan County 4 $17.00
Olympia Municipal Court Thurston County 3
Pend Oreille Superior Court Pend Oreille 1
Pierce County District Court Pierce County 7
Pierce County Superior Court Pierce County 31 $3,000.00 $1,051.86
Puyallup Municipal Court Pierce County 3 $91.50 $66.50
Renton Municipal Court King County 4
Sammamish Municipal Court King County 0 $50.00 $50.00
San Juan County Juvenile Court San Juan County 1
SeaTac Municipal Court King County 5 $2,500.00 $3,034.00
Seattle Municipal Court King County 20 $144,100.00 $115,215.00
Skagit County Superior Court Skagit County 4
Snohomish County District Court Snohomish County 4
Everett
Snohomish County Superior Court Snohomish County 1 $14.07
Spokane County District Court Spokane County 1
Spokane County Superior Court Spokane County 7 $795.86
Tacoma Municipal Court Pierce County 7
Thurston County District Court Thurston County 1 $50.00 $-
Thurston County Superior Court Thurston County 5
Tukwila Municipal Court King County 1 $9,700.00 $5,350.00
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 16
Convictions
Fees Fees
County for Applicable
Assessed Collected
Court Charges
Walla Walla County Superior Walla Walla County 2
Court
Wapato Municipal Court Yakima County 1
Wenatchee Municipal Court Chelan County 1
Whatcom County Superior Court Whatcom County 6
Whitman County District Court Whitman County 1 $50.00
Yakima County Superior Court Yakima County 2
Yakima Municipal Court Yakima County 7 $95.00 $145.00
Yelm Municipal Court Thurston County 1
Totals 358 $257,495.52 $174,890.72
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 17
Appendix C: King County's Approach
Most of the arrests and convictions for the crime of patronizing a prostitute (RCW 9A.88.110) and
commercial sexual abuse of a minor (RCW 9.68A.100) take place in King County. Several law
enforcement agencies in King County, including the City of Seattle, Kent, Bellevue, Des Moines, and
Renton police departments, have policies to actively pursue those who buy sexual encounters from
adults or children.
In 2014, King County launched a new approach to reduce the demand for prostitution by working to
change the attitudes and behaviors of people arrested for patronization. Several law enforcement and
prosecuting agencies within King County have changed their emphasis to both pursue the buyers of
commercial sex and the people who facilitate sex trafficking. This approach is based on the reality that
past practices of arresting and prosecuting people in prostitution was not making the community any
safer. Rather, punishing prostituted people resulted in the cycle of prostitution-related crime and sex
trafficking persisting. Presently, law enforcement and prosecuting agencies are instead focusing on
punishing those who seek out and facilitate the illegal interaction – the sex buyers, promoters, and
traffickers.
Sex trafficking is a crime that disproportionately targets vulnerable youth across Washington state,
including victims of child sexual abuse or youth in the foster care system. The crime disproportionately
harms youth from marginalized racial backgrounds and sexual identities. Human traffickers and sex
buyers exploit the vulnerabilities of youth by involving them in the sex trade. Across the U.S., the typical
age of entry of youth being coerced into the sex trade is between 13 and 15 years old. In 2018, almost
200 youth between the ages of 11 and 24 were referred to services for youth experiencing commercial
sexual exploitation in King County, and 20% of the youth referred were between the ages of 11 and 14.
These children and young adults experience repeated rapes, abuse, and other forms of violence at the
hands of sex buyers and traffickers.
All through the process, these trafficking victims face many barriers to escaping the life of prostitution.
Therefore, King County’s approach emphasizes the prosecution of sex buyers and traffickers and
connecting prostituted people to services. Program leaders assert that a reduction in demand will
decrease harm to prostituted people, reduce self-destructive behaviors of buyers and curb sex
trafficking.
Over the past four years, the Ending Exploitation Collaborative (EEC) in King County marshaled a cross-
sector transformation toward diverting victims of sexual exploitation to services and holding sex
buyers accountable. The EEC is a partnership of the Organization for Prostitution Survivors, the
Washington State Attorney General’s Office, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Seattle
Against Slavery, Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking, and the Center for Child and Youth Justice.
The EEC has changed norms and practices across sectors to confront the demand for commercial sex.
For example, traffickers and sex buyers in King County are being arrested and prosecuted through
pioneering approaches that have been recognized around the country. Following conviction, sex buyers
in King County are required to complete an innovative and successful education program called
“Stopping Sexual Exploitation.” This program is based on principles of social justice and personal
transformation and is designed to help men understand their behavior and promote their own decisions
not to buy sex. A significant portion of the fees for the buyer education program, as well as the
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 18
statutorily mandated fines assessed from buyers, is directed to increase services that help victims of
sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, including housing, treatment, and employment training.
The EEC also seeks to shift norms and practices by youth and adults through education and targeted
interventions because of its belief that broader cultural and institutional norms influence the individual
choice to buy sex. The EEC provides prevention education for youth in schools and adults at their place
of work. Because research indicates that 13% of calls to solicit sex originate from local businesses, and
a peak time to solicit sex online is 2 p.m., employers have played an important role in educating
employees and preventing illegal activity through the workplace.
Tables 6 and 7 illustrate how King County's arrests and convictions, respectively, compare to the
numbers in the rest of the state.
Table 6: Arrests for Patronization and Prostitution Crimes - SFY 2019
200 183
180
160
140
120
100
80
60 49
40 19
18
20
0
King County Remainder of State
Patronizing a Prostitute Prostitution
Source: The Washington State Patrol and Seattle Municipal Court
Table 7: Convictions for Patronization and Prostitution Crimes - SFY 2019
20 18
18
16
14 13
12
10
8
6 4
4 2
2
0
King County Remainder of State
Patronizing a Prostitute Prostitution
Source: The Washington State Patrol and Seattle Municipal Court
2019 CRIMINAL PENALTY FEES RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CRIMES 19
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