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

18 March 2015

MEMORANDUM

TO: King County Law Enforcement Agencies

FROM: Mark Larson

SUBJECT: Filing Standard for Adult Prostitution and Prostitution Loitering Offenses

The KCPAO District Court Unit is implementing a new filing standard applicable to all adult
Prostitution (RCW 9A.88.030) and Prostitution Loitering (KCC 12.63.010) cases. The purpose
of this filing standard is to increase access to services for individuals who may be victims of sex
trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation, or who are otherwise involved in the commercial
sex trade. The purpose is also to recognize that the illicit markets of prostitution and sex
trafficking are driven by the demand for commercial sex.

To that end, the following filing standard applies to adult Prostitution and Prostitution Loitering
cases involving persons engaged in prostitution. Cases involving buyers of commercial sex will
continue to be filed if sufficient admissible evidence exists that, when considered with the most
plausible, reasonably foreseeable defense that could be raised under the evidence, would justify
conviction by a reasonable and objective fact finder.

The KCPAO will consider filing Prostitution or Prostitution Loitering charges involving persons
engaged in prostitution only after the offender has first been offered services through the Law
Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program, when appropriate in light of LEAD eligibility
criteria. If the offender refuses to complete the intake process within 30 days, then charges shall
be referred to the KCPAO for filing consideration.