STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — The City of Stevens Point unanimously passed an ordinance that will lessen the punishment of prostitution in the city.
Alderperson Heidi Oberstadt is the chair of the Public Protection Committee that introduced and originally passed the ordinance. She explains how she feels this will help the community.
“This option, this municipal court option, is really for those individuals who are caught up in lifestyle that they didn’t openly choose or those that are being taken advantage of. One of the great things about this is that it’s going to give us a chance to get them in the system where we can give them options and services like say differed prosecution and counseling,” she said.
Oberstadt says this all started with a request from the police department.
“Based on needs that they’ve had in the past that they’re looking forward to in the future,” said Oberstadt. “Other municipalities, like Grand Chute and Wausau, already have something like this in place. We really looked to other cities for our guidance in how they crafted their ordinances and went from there.”
Orberstadt compared this ordinance to the sexting ordinance the city passed last year.
Under the ordinance, the crime could come with only a fine of around $700 in municipal court.
