News 12 at 11 o'clock -- Sunday, September 5, 2010

AUGUSTA, GA. -- The popular web site Craigslist.org, has been under constant scrutiny for it's "adult services" section and as of Saturday it was "censored."

Local investigators say the change could have a big impact. Investigators often used the site in the past to set up sting operations and nab dozens of suspects.

Authorities say Craigslist made prostitutes mobile and very hard to catch, but now it will allow them to focus on cracking down in other ways.

"Those girls just pull on your heart strings because that's what they have to do to make a living," Suzie Greene of Garden City Rescue Mission said.

Greene says she has seen prostitutes come in for help at her women's shelter for years.

"It's shocking for the things that they tell you because they go into complete detail," Greene said. "Like you know they start out at 11 or 12 years old they say and that's the heart breaking part right there."

Those shocking stories she's heard over the years is exactly why Greene is happy to see the "adult services" section of Craigslist, "censored."

"That's the best thing they've ever done. It doesn't need to be there," she added. "They can find other ways to do it, but maybe it won't be so easy."

Richmond County investigator Sgt. Richard Elim says the department has seen a recent uptick in adult ads on the web site.

"Craigslist makes it easier for people to get on, makes them mobile so actually if you do a targeted operation the chances of catching those persons are very low," Sgt. Elim said.

The change eliminates one problem, but does leave them looking for other ways to combat prostitution, he added.

"I think it will make our job, not harder because if they adapt to a new medium we will too," Sgt. Elim said.

But until a new medium comes about investigators say blocking this service is a step in the right direction.

"I don't think we can stop prostitution but I think we can aggressively target it and suppress it," Sgt. Elim added.

No matter if authorities can suppress it or not the Garden City Rescue Mission will be there to help either way.

"We can make a difference in them and we can make a difference in the kids that come up through there and we can show them that there is a different way to live," Greene said.

South Carolina's Attorney General was one of the 17 across the country who fought to get the section closed.

It's still unsure if the censorship is permanent so its possible the company is doing this in protest and could open it again in the future.