Harris County is creating a new court for Child Prostitutes
A new pilot program is underway in Harris County – a specialty court offering a humane alternative for dealing with child prostitutes. Such a court has been much needed since children are the victims, not the perpetrators of child prostitution. In the past, there had been too many cases of young girls who had been sexually and physically abused, had run away from a foster home, and become emotionally impoverished and dependent.
Bravo for State District Juvenile Judge Michael Schneider, Associate Judge Angela Ellis, the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, and Children at Risk to create a pilot for a juvenile human trafficking court. The funding has been provided for staffing and services. All that is needed is suitable housing.
Original story appeared in Houston Chronicle, Sunday July 31, 2011, A New Beginning.
