COYOTE's goals include the decriminalization (as opposed to the legalization) of prostitution, pimping and pandering, as well as the elimination of social stigma concerning sex work as an occupation.
COYOTE provides expert advice and sensitivity training for social service and law enforcement agencies that deal with sex workers.
They gathered stories and facts about the injustices sex workers faced and launched a public education drive to highlight the racist and sexist biases of prostitution arrests.
COYOTE organized educational programs and cultural events to raise money for other projects and held public demonstrations to protest entrapment.
They abolished mandatory penicillin therapy and multi-day jail quarantines and pressured public defenders to provide better representation for people accused of soliciting and prostitution, misdemeanor offenses.
[6] From these events, COYOTE raised a bail fund to free women from exploitative pimps and created special welfare programs and assistance services.
Data was submitted that demonstrated selective prosecution: the Providence police were arresting female sex workers far more often than the male customers.
They had been critical of the group for focusing on "higher class" prostitutes (such as call girls and escorts) and white sex workers, while ignoring the concerns of streetwalkers and ethnic minorities.
[3] In 2009, Bella Robinson founded the Rhode Island chapter of the organization (COYOTE RI) and currently serves as the executive director.