Crackdown on sex trafficking in Santa Clara

Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Sgt. Kurtis Stenderup, center, runs the sheriff’s Human Trafficking Task Force.

Sgt. Kurtis Stenderup, left and California Parole Officer J. Routt await suspects’ arrival. “Johns” soliciting prostitutes are cited, and prostitutes are viewed as victims. Instead of being charged, they meet with advocates who offer counseling and resources.

A man suspected of being a “john” is frisked in a Santa Clara hotel room during the sting operation.

A man accused of soliciting a prostitute is handcuffed and detained on a hotel bed.

Officers emptied the pockets of a man suspected of being a “John” and laid the contents out on a bed.

A woman suspected of soliciting prostitution is frisked. Instead, of being arrested or cited, prostitutes found in the sting were interviewed by trained advocates from the YWCA.