DANIEL T.

SATTERBERG Office of the Prosecuting Attorney

PROSECUTING ATTORNEY CRIMINAL DIVISION
W554 King County Courthouse
516 Third Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98104
(206) 296-9000

24 April 2017

MEMORANDUM

TO: King County Law Enforcement Agencies

FROM: Mark Larson

SUBJECT: Filing Standard for Prostitution and Prostitution Loitering Cases

The King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office (KCPAO) is concerned about the ability of all
persons who may be victims of crime, including rape, commercial sexual exploitation, and other
violence, to seek law enforcement and medical assistance and access to justice, care and safety.
Persons engaged in prostitution are frequently the victims of violent crime at the hands of pimps,
traffickers and buyers. However, such persons may be reluctant to seek help from the police, in
part due to a fear of being charged with prostitution.

To facilitate access to law enforcement and medical assistance, and to increase accountability for
violent offenders, particularly those who target marginalized and exploited victims, the KCPAO
has adopted the following policy:

A person acting in good faith who seeks medical or law enforcement assistance for
someone, including the reporting person, who is the victim of a crime shall not be
prosecuted for Prostitution (SMC 12A.10.020, RCW 9A.88.030) or Prostitution
Loitering (SMC 12A.10.010, KCC 12.63.010(G) where the loitering is for the
purpose of Prostitution) if the evidence for the charge was obtained as a result of the
person seeking assistance.