Either way, it's a cinch almost no arrests are being made in Durham County for prostitution. And the data from yesterday shows that what arrests are actually made are done by the Durham Sheriff and not by the Durham Police.
Looking at the 1994 - 1998 data, it seems the change in enforcement took place in 1995 - 1996.
http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/ojstatbb/ezaucr/asp/ucr_display.asp?Select_State=37&Select_County=63&rdoData=1r&rdoYear=94
That's interesting. There's also a notiable change in arrests for sexual offences (other) and family offenses around that time. I believe that's when Stephens went from being DA to Superior Court, and was followed by Jim Hardin.
Can a DA or a mayor tell a police department to ignore certain crimes in favor of others? Was the growing crime rate causing an image problem that making fewer arrests would hide?
Chiefs of Police:
Steven W. Chalmers Chief of Police January 6, 2003 - Present
Steven W. Chalmers Interim Chief of Police January 31, 2002 - January 6,2003
Teresa C. Chambers January 20, 1998-January 31, 2002
H. Kent Fletcher Interim Chief of Police June 30, 1997-January 20, 1998
Jackie W. McNeil May 1992-June 30, 1997
Trevor A. Hampton March 1, 1988-May 1992
I think your conclusion that something is rotten in Durham in relation to the free operation of prostitution is spot on, although I'm not sure it's the courthouse crowd.
The statistics you posted speak for themselves. It's pretty clear graft is going on. Should anybody decide to start an investigation, the vice detail with DPD would be the place to start.