Examining Recidivism in a Prostitution Diversion Program

2020
Street-based sex work that is criminalized throughout much of the U.S. diversion programs has shown mixed results. This study examined the effect a quasi-experimental intervention (prostitution diversion program, n = 149) had on prostitution rearrest compared with a waitlist control group (n = 77) among N = 226 individuals arrested for prostitution in Baltimore. In both groups, n = 64 (28.32%) were rearrested for prostitution over 30 months. Tests of differences compared groups with a significant difference in gender only. A Cox proportional hazard model examined differences in survival time (to recidivist prostitution arrest) between individuals in the control and intervention groups at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months. Results indicate that participation in the intervention did not have a significant effect on decreasing prostitution arrests over time. History of prior prostitution arrest was a significant predictor (hazard ration (HR) = 1.12, p = .02) of rearrest.Lack of program success suggests that barriers to exiting prostitution are substantial, despite availability of supportive services, and that diversion programs may not be the best intervention strategy for all sex workers. Future research should identify motivators for exiting and how to reduce exiting barriers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OFFENDER THERAPY AND COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY
页码:232-248|卷号:64|期号:2-3
ISSN:0306-624X
收录类型
SSCI
发表日期
2020
学科领域
循证法学
国家
美国
语种
英语
DOI
10.1177/0306624X19866115
其他关键词
SEX WORKERS; RISK BEHAVIORS; HEALTH; EXIT; TRAFFICKING; SERVICES; VIOLENCE; PEOPLE; GENDER; IMPACT
EISSN
1552-6933
资助机构
Abell Foundation
资助信息
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The present study did not receive funding other than departmental resources allocated to each author. New Futures was funded by the Abell Foundation.
被引频次(WOS)
3
被引更新日期
2022-01
来源机构
University of Missouri System University of Missouri Saint Louis University of Missouri System University of Missouri Columbia Johns Hopkins University
关键词
prostitution diversion court sex work recidivism survival analysis