Traumatic Backgrounds of Women who have Exited the Prostitution Lifestyle for an Alternative Court Program
Tammy Schultz & Hannah Estabrook | September 21 | 10:15-11:15 AM | Room 3010A
Sex trafficking is a notorious transnational and international crime (Muftic, Finn, 2013; Raimi, 2012). A common precursor to sexual exploitation is childhood trauma (Campbell, Ahrens, Sefl, & Clark, 20013; Wilson & Widom, 2010). The mental health concerns among sex trafficking victims include emotional, behavioral, social, and spiritual ramifications (Clawson, Dutch, Solomon, & Grace, 2009; Hodge, 2014; Zimmerman, Hossain, & Watts, 2011). Despite the myriad of individuals sexually exploited annually within the United States, scant research attention focuses on the sequelae of trauma and subsequent posttraumatic outcomes. The Changing Actions to Change Habits (CATCH) specialty court provides defendants charged with solicitation, the opportunity of comprehensive assessment and treatment services. The purpose of this pilot study is to empirically investigate the relationship between trauma histories and post-traumatic stress outcomes among individuals enrolled in the CATCH program.
Presentation Objectives:
- Identify CATCH court in Franklin County, Columbus, Ohio 2-year treatment-oriented non-adversarial program for women charged with solicitation
- Recognize salient trauma histories among women engaged in sex trafficking
- Identify complex mental health concerns of trafficked women