Crime data suggests that the illicit sex trade is alive and well in Dallas, especially in northwestern areas.
The Dallas Express has long reported on the seedy side of Dallas, from the doubling of prostitution-related offenses last year to the steady stream of johns caught in the net of an ongoing undercover operation run by the Dallas Police Department.
It is no secret that a considerable share of commercial sex activities are occurring in northwestern Dallas, with its high concentration of sexually oriented businesses — an estimated 80% of those registered in the city.
Council Member Omar Narvaez represents District 6, including the area around the Interstate 35 corridor between TX-348 Spur and Interstate 635, as well as Harry Hines Boulevard. Residents and business owners in this area have long called for a crackdown, with many of the illicit activities surrounding prostitution and sex trafficking occurring in plain sight on the streets.
One YouTube news account called “What Up DFW” spotlighted the “growing boldness” of prostitution recently.
Data from the City’s crime analytics dashboard indicates that 103 reports of purchasing prostitution, 42 of prostitution, 30 of human trafficking for the purposes of commercial sex, and 27 of promoting or assisting prostitution had been logged in District 6 this year as of June 25. Alarming increases were seen year over year in terms of trafficking (76.5%) and sex buying (296.2%).
The Dallas Express asked Narvaez about the persistence of prostitution-related crime in his district but did not immediately receive a response.
Although human trafficking is a nebulous, covert activity that is difficult to pin down, there have been 44 victims identified in Dallas as of June 25, according to City data. All were female, with a median age of 17. The vast majority were women of color, with 23 being black and 14 Hispanic.
City leaders have budgeted DPD just $654 million this fiscal year, which is far less taxpayer money directed toward policing than in other high-crime jurisdictions across the country, including New York City and Los Angeles. This sum is unlikely to help the department overcome its significant staffing woes, with just 3,000 officers currently in the field. A City report previously recommended a force of 4,000 to adequately ensure public safety in a jurisdiction with the population size of Dallas.
The Dallas Express, The People’s Paper, believes that important information about the City, such as crime rates and trends, should be easily accessible. According to data from the FBI’s UCR database, Dallas has more crime per capita than hotspots like Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and New York.
How did your area stack up on crime? Check out our interactive Crime Map to compare all Dallas City Council Districts. Curious how we got our numbers? Check out our methodology page here.