Transcript Commercially Sexually Exploited Children

Collaborative Court
 Commissioner Catherine J. Pratt
[email protected]
 Los Angeles Juvenile Delinquency Court
(Compton / Watts)
 “Succeeding Through Achievement and
Resilience”
STAR
 Started January 1, 2012
STAR Court
 Funded by a grant from California Department of Corrections
and Rehabilitation; $300,000 / year for 3 years.
 Dept. of Probation also granted $350,000 / year for 3 years.
 Grants end 12/31/14.
 Currently working with 104 girls, ages 13 – 18.
 Another 100 girls participated, probation now closed
 73% never re-arrested for prostitution (as adult or juvenile)
 Reduced average # days in custody (35 in 2011, 25 in 2013 & 2014)
L.A. Statistics
 Median age in STAR Court: 15 -16 years
 Ethnic Background: 91% of youth in the STAR
Court are African American or Latino.
 Over 40% of girls in STAR are on probation for
non-prostitution charges
 80% have had prior or current DCFS involvement
 22% of “graduates” have voluntarily maintained
contact with member of STAR team after case
closed
Collaborative Process:
Team members include:
• 4 specially trained Probation Officers (caseload max. 25)
• 1 supervising Probation Officer
• 1 DCFS representative with expertise in
dependency/delinquency crossover cases
• 2 educational advocates (from local public interest law
firms)
• 1-6 advocates (with specialized training in CSEC and social
work) who interact with the youth on a weekly basis; 2 of
these advocates are survivors; Often in touch with youth
while on AWOL status;
• District Attorney
• Defense Counsel
On occasion we will also consult with:
• Independent living services experts
• Law enforcement
• Lawyers to represent/support youth in criminal actions
against traffickers
• Group home representatives
Striving for sustainability
 Training of DPO’s, social workers, judges, law
enforcement, school professionals, placement
staff, attorneys
 Public Awareness campaign “No Such Thing” as
a Child Prostitute
 DA pre-filing diversion program
 County efforts to engage DCFS
 Volunteer mentoring program
 First Responder Protocol Pilot
On My Wish List
 Enhanced efforts to locate missing children
(visits, flyers, reports to NCMEC
www.missingkids.com)
 Protocols regarding testimony in cases against
their trafficker
(intimidation, safety, vertical prosecution,
clothing, restraints)
Placement Options / Issues:
Consistent breakdown of where girls are:
• 25-30% AWOL
• 25% in open placement
• 25% at home or DCFS foster home
• 20-25% in custody (juvenile hall pending dispo, camp, mental
health facility)
Expectations of local group home providers:
• No rejections because of AWOL history
• Will take youth back following AWOL
• Enhanced communication with Probation
• Allow visits by advocates
• Transport to court once a month
Use of out-of-state placements
 Forest Ridge: Estherville, Iowa
 Excelsior: Aurora, Colorado
 Mingus Mountain: Prescott, Arizona
Coming to Court:
• Dates and times:
• Morning or afternoon calendar (10:00 or 1:30)
• Flexible: Youth’s school commitments, medical
appointments should be prioritized
• Can be more frequent, if necessary
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Input of staff: want most recent information possible
Written reports optional
Sensitive issues: make us aware
Admonishments
Special orders: visits, community passes, school activities
• May not require court appearance
Interpreting/Translating Court Orders:
• Clarify in court, if necessary; can also ask for clarification
later
• Minute orders: available, but please minimize
• Ordering something vs. ordering the discussion of
something
• Ordered to do something vs. given discretion to do
something
• Make note of timelines (when youth may return home) so
that our messages are consistent; Feel free to remind me
of timelines
The Tough Issues:
Why I make the orders I do . . . Or
Do these girls get special treatment?
Why?
TRAUMA
Harm Reduction Model:
consequences of bad choices;
Remember: their pimp is willing to
pay attention to them if we are not;
ALWAYS keep in mind:
• Victims of multiple trauma
• Listen
• Survivor voice and support are critical (for youth and
programing)
• Consistency of judge, attorney, advocate,
placement
• The inflexibility of the system and lack of personal
connections that result from being raised in the
system are part of the problem; Be creative.
• Facilitate the integration of CSEC experiences with
rest of life
• Need extra support at times (p.m., new situation,
contact with family, when testifying)
• Celebrate success, no matter how small
Contacts with attorneys/advocates/mentors:
Rely on contact lists
Contact Probation Officer when in doubt
Define prerequisites or set limitations, if necessary
Accommodate, if possible
(e.g.: flexibility regarding times and terms)
• If disruptive, discuss with advocate and/or youth,
treatment team
• Consistency is important: deliver messages to youth
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Safety Considerations:
• Follow the approved contact list
• Family members may be exploiters or in touch with
them
• Listen to entire conversation
• Monitor written correspondence
• Short AWOLs and returns
• drug testing orders
• search conditions
• Cell phones
• Recruiting: immediate intervention
• Other minors may be exploiter
• Read and compare tattoos
Trends I have noticed:
Gang-related; greater intimidation and violence
10-15% likely recruited by family members
Branded by visible tattoos
History of parental substance abuse
History of assault against Mother
Older “uncles” coming to court
Not much drug use
Many are pregnant and/or parenting; pimp likely
to be father
• Former probationers allegedly involved in pimping
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They like positive attention
Very smart and goal oriented
Verbal
Empowered by helping other girls
The Youth’s Perspective:
What was helpful?
 “The cop told my judge that I needed
somewhere to go to be away from him [my
pimp] instead of getting locked up.”
 “A [place] where I can be myself. I don’t have
to impress anybody. I don’t have to act different
in front of nobody because it’s like they don’t
judge me on things that I do of things that I’ve
done in the past.”
• “She [a cop] treated me like I was a real person. She
even used to call me on weekends just to check on me
and make sure I was doing good.”
• “It felt good that when I come in I could get a hug,
something that I can get from my counselor that I can’t
get from my own mother.”
• “The [youth program] have showed me what my talents
are. My favorite is poetry.”
• “He [the judge] acted mad interested in my life. So now,
even if I have a good court report I go anyway, just so he
can see I’m doing good.”
Rachel Lloyd