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HOPE: Houston Operative for Preventing Exploitation

A Pre-Arrest Diversion Program for the Sexually Exploited

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Allison Franklin’s Story

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In Houston, victims of sexual exploitation are criminalized, putting an expensive burden on the local criminal justice system without addressing the needs of these victims.

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SEX WORKERS AND VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING ARE NOT EASILY DISTINGUISHED.

92%

59%

34

The average age of death for US prostitutes is 34.

59% of US prostitutes have been raped more than 5 times.

92% of US prostitutes have been raped.

The leading cause of death for prostitutes is murder, followed by suicide.

1. One of the problems with identifying sexually exploited workers is that there’s not a clear line between sex work and sexual exploitation; Allison was misidentified multiple times. Victims are criminalized for a “choice” when they feel it is their only option for survival.

2. Sex workers are a highly vulnerable population to exploitation and violence.

3. Any policy that aims to help one group needs to help both

Allison’s story and these statistics show us that there is no clear line between sex trafficked victims and what is referred to as sex work. She did not acknowledge she was a victim of sexual exploitation until years of arrests and felonies. Many people are misidentified and consequently shoved aside by the criminal justice system. Those criminalized because of involvement in sex work are a highly vulnerable population; they are at risk of being trafficked in the future, if they have not been already. Those involved because they feel they have no other choice to survive.

Explain how sex trafficking and sex work are not that distinct

73-92% of US prostitutes have been raped; 59% have been raped more than 5 times; average age of death is 34; high murder and suicide rates; high PTSD rates; these prostitutes are criminalized although they are victims of abuse, rape, etc., but they are not provided support

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$5.4 million

paid by Texas taxpayers annually for prostitution misdemeanor cases alone.

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PROJECT 180

Harris County’s Current Diversion Program

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PROJECT 180: Court-Based Diversion

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ARREST: Initial contact with law enforcement

COURT: Program offered alongside misdemeanor charge

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HELP: Offered resources through the Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC)

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OUTCOME: If program completed, charges are dismissed

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HOPE:

Houston Operative for Preventing Exploitation

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HOPE provides an additional, front-end point of intervention before Project 180.

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HOPE: Pre-Arrest Diversion

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CONTACT: Initial contact with law enforcement

HELP: Presented choice resources instead of arrest

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OUTCOME: Offered expanded resources through HAWC

Here’s how HOPE would work:

#1 -- At the initial point of contact between a potential victim of sexual exploitation and law enforcement, officers will offer the CHOICE of resources through HOPE before arrest -- whereas in Project 180 resources are currently offered as a choice before conviction. It is worth noting here that law enforcement would still maintain the discretion to arrest.
#3 -- Upon acceptance of HOPE resources, victims of sexual exploitation will receive the help they need through the Houston Area Women’s Center without being needlessly funneled into the criminal justice system.

The implementation of HOPE would rely on two important stakeholders in Harris County: the Houston Police Department and the DA’s office, in order to mitigate arrests and criminal charges.

Trauma training for law enforcement

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LEAD Program

Seattle’s Groundbreaking Pre-Arrest Diversion Program

The Precedent:

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Reduced Arrests:

58% less likely to be arrested post-program participation

Changing Police Culture:

Participants reported positive experiences with law enforcement

Expanding Engagement:

35% of participants had never previously been connected with social services

Harm-Reduction:

Healing first and non-judgemental approach

There have been a multitude of benefits in Seattle including reduced arrests and increased exposure to services.
Most importantly, LEAD has led to a paradigm shift where (1) police now view these criminalized populations as victims deserving of help rather than arrest and (2) participants have begun to trust law enforcement and their local government as a reliable safety net – ultimately changing their life’s direction after the program because of the new support system

It has been replicated around the country and expanded beyond Seattle

-- Explain critical difference--LEAD mainly deals with drug use - READ BOLDED

Nearly all participants in the Seattle LEAD program reported positive experiences, and completion of the program is associated with improved relationships with law enforcement and improved quality of life
LEAD participants were 58% less likely to be arrested than those in a control group who went through the criminal justice system as usual (2017)
Reported better experiences with law enforcement
35% had never been connected with social services before
Harm reduction, healing first approach
Non-judgemental, does not require abstinence or proven change for help
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/leadSF/Reports/Specific-Aim-4-FINAL_UW-LEAD-Evaluation-Qualitative-Report-11.1.16_updated.pdf

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EXPECTED BENEFITS FOR HOUSTON

Increased access to meaningful services

Empowering a marginalized population through choice

Reduced financial burden on Houston in the long term

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Fewer arrests, charges, and convictions

Improved relationships with law enforcement

Reduced trauma for the sexually exploited

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At the end of the day, HOPE offers a path to create long-lasting, significant change for victims through feasible, previously demonstrated changes
In the short-term:

Victims receive access to necessary care without the trauma of arrest and prosecution.

In the long-term:

HOPE builds on project 180 to reduce the financial burden on Houston’s courts by ending unnecessary and trauma and by reducing the size of criminalized populations
Police culture will likely change dramatically to a culture of empathy and harm reduction rather than criminalization for these victims
HOPE finally gives sexually exploited victims the CHOICE to break out of cycles of abuse and reduce this major public health issue

At the end of the day, we believe that Houston can do better for people like Allison. HOPE can improve the criminal justice system by empowering victims through choice rather than criminalizing them by force.

Overall, HOPE builds on local progress to reduce the human cost of sexual exploitation while reducing the financial burden on Houston taxpayers.

If HOPE is implemented in Houston, we expect to see similar benefits as LEAD in Seattle.
The sexually exploited would be first directed to meaningful services instead of retraumatizing them through a punitive and intimidating court process. Having the choice to engage in HOPE would empower a population that may not have had much choice previously.
There would be fewer arrests and a lessened financial burden on Houston courts in the long term.
We would expect improved trust and relationships with law enforcement as the police would be more of a supportive resource than a punitive entity.
Short term

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THANK YOU!

Rice University Center for Civic Leadership

Allison Franklin of SAFE Austin

Jay Jenkins of Texas Criminal Justice Coalition

Gina Calanni, Texas House Representative

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$18 million

How Houston can pay for HOPE:

allocated by the state to prevent sex trafficking and care for victims of sexual exploitation in Texas.

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Addressing Issues of Accountability

Police retain discretion to arrest.
Choice is empowering.
90% followed through with their appointments with HAWC.