The American Civil Liberties Union is taking the city's police department to task for sex crime arrests it called a misuse of officers' time.
NEWARK -- The New Jersey ACLU is slamming the city's police department for a sting operation that netted 13 prostitution-related arrests this weekend, arguing that the department is wasting its time targeting "consenting" adults.
The arrests, according to a lengthy statement from ACLU-NJ Executive Director Udi Ofer, "raise concerns yet again about Newark's embrace of failed and destructive 'Broken Windows' policing strategies."
"Using our criminal justice system to harass, arrest and incarcerate consenting adults who agree to exchange sex for money is a poor use of the NPD's limited resources," he said.
The ACLU has long been critical of the Newark department's policing tactics. The lobbying group filed the complaint that launched a three-year federal investigation into the department. The resulting Department of Justice report prompted a consent decree calling for sweeping reforms, and an independent monitor overseeing the changes.
13 charged in prostitution sting
Ofer further criticized the weekend arrests involving "low level offenses" like prostitution, saying that quality of life enforcement is the opposite of the "community policing" strategies officers should be focusing on.
"These arrests harm public health by stigmatizing sex workers and making their lives more difficult and dangerous," Ofer said in the statement.
"These crackdowns harm public safety by stoking fear of police among sex workers, dissuading vulnerable communities from reaching out to police to report abuses."
The ACLU has been advocating for the de-criminalization of prostitution in New Jersey. But, top officials at the police department rejected the notion.
City Department of Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a statement to NJ Advance Media that the department enforces all laws.
"I can't tell the police personnel to turn their heads and to selectively enforce certain statues, laws and ordinances," Ambrose said. "We address all complaints received in my office or by my officers regardless of whether they are minor or serious."
And, while he said the police department is working with other city agencies to combat the root causes that drive people become involved in drug and sex crimes, he said he cannot ignore criminal activity once it occurs.
"Most of the complaints received at my office are from the residents of Newark are for quality of life complaints (like) prostitution, where sex acts are occurring in vehicles in front of their homes," Ambrose said.
"It would be irresponsible for the police to ignore these complaints."
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.