DETROIT — People convicted of soliciting a prostitute in Detroit might soon find themselves exposed - on public-access TV.
On a day when the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments against publishing the names of convicted child sex offenders, Wayne County Prosecutor Michael Duggan said Wednesday that he had been working with Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Police Chief Jerry Oliver in recent weeks to create a metro-Detroit version of Denver's "Johns TV," a cable program that shows the faces and lists the names of people convicted of soliciting prostitutes.
Duggan said many of Detroit's prostitution customers - commonly referred to as johns - live in suburbs and outlying areas.
The program will let people know, that "once you are convicted, we are going to put your name out there, so your neighbors will know, and your family will know," said Maurice Morton, deputy chief of drug operations for the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. "If you come into Detroit to get a hooker, the whole world will know."
Duggan said Denver city officials reported that the television program and the posting of convicted johns on the city's Web site had helped cut prostitution solicitation by about 40 percent.
The metro Detroit project will focus on convictions in Detroit at first but could expand to neighboring cities, depending on the project's effectiveness. The plan is to air the show throughout metro Detroit, Morton said. Officials also are considering posting the information on the city's Web site.
The cable program could begin airing by early spring, Morton said.
"It will run on public-access TV, and we figure the cost will be nominal," Morton said.
Detroit for years has confiscated the cars of anyone soliciting an undercover officer posing as a prostitute. The television show would step up anti-prostitution efforts, said Detroit Police Deputy Chief Harold Cureton.
Kary Moss, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, said, "Obviously we are not going to be very happy about this. We've long ago lost the tradition of public flogging. It's cruel to embarrass people in the public square."
"I would doubt that they have solid data showing that this type of flogging deters future crimes," Moss added.
When told that "Johns TV" became one of the most popular shows ever to air on Denver's public-access channels, Moss said:
"The National Enquirer is widely read also. It doesn't mean it's a good thing to do."
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