Attendees: Stephany Ashley, St. James Infirmary; Saerom Choi, APILO; Alan Guttierez, LYRIC; Elise Hansell, Dept. on the Status of Women; Judy Jon, LYRIC; Minouche Kandel, Dept. on the Status of Women; Alix Lutnick, RTI; Aria Said, St. James Infirmary; Rachel West, U.S. Pros

 

I.             Introductions/Check In

 

II.            Update on SFPD

 

A.            Check in on the Prioritizing Safety for Sex Workers Policy

                    

The latest policy draft from SFPD eliminated the paragraph titled, “Violence Committed by Law Enforcement Officers”. Minouche relayed that Chief Scott’s decided to remove this paragraph due to DOJ recommendations to not duplicate policy. According to the Chief, any violence committed by law enforcement officers would already be covered by general order on police misconduct.
Group discusses and agrees this language is crucial to the policy. This policy has been in negotiations for the past 2-3 years. High turnover rates and a lack of continuity at SFPD are identified as an issue in the policy-making process. There is general consensus not to request a meeting with Chief Scott.
Group discusses alternative options for next steps since SFPD has refused to add explicit language that it is unacceptable for officers commit violence against sex workers. Some members of the group decide to bring this issue to the Police Commission and write a press release. There is a discussion over other policy recommendations – a policy prohibiting the entrapment of sex workers, a request to gather data on the total number of complainants that call to report prostitution.

Action item: Rachel will share previous policy recommendations re: decriminalization. Policy prohibiting the entrapment of sex workers.
Action Item: Elise will draft a timeline and send to the group by 5/26.
Action Item: Stephanie will draft press release and send to group. Group aims to bring this issue to the 6/21-commission meeting.

 

B.            Opportunity to observe Human Trafficking Training at SFPD Academy 8/16/17

 

For those interested in attending, email Minouche to reserve a spot.

 

C.            SFPD data

 

RTI has completed a database. Alix has coded 100 of the 800 incident reports that are available from 2009, 2010, 2014, and 2015.

 

 

III.           Remaining part of the Task Force

 

IV.           Update on discussion of Legal Momentum lawsuit against Backpage at main meeting

 

There was no consensus from the Task Force on whether or not the city should support Legal Momentum’s Backpage litigation strategy.

 

V.            Debrief on presentation at General Task Force Meeting

 

Alan felt it was helpful to have fellows. People are holding more rights-based frameworks for their work.

 

VI.          Explore laws that decriminalize transmission of HIV

 

VII.         Responding to Santa Clara County Prostitution Prevention and Harm Reduction Subcommittee

 

VIII.        Priorities for 2017

               

IX.           Planning for summer brown bag

 

Action Item: Minouche will add Aria and Ceceliaroberts@stjamesinformary to the programs list