Name: Problem-Solving Courts, Street Level Bureaucrats, and Clients as Policy Agents in a Prostitution Diversion Program
Published: 2020-07-22

Description: This research examined newly implemented prostitution diversion programs in Baltimore City and Philadelphia from the perspectives of program participants and program staff. Via interviews, focus groups, and observations this qualitative longitudinal study examined the program participants’ motivations for participating in the problem-solving court models as well as how they negotiate with court professionals to meet their needs and achieved their goals. A series of 1 to 5 interviews per person were conducted during and after participation in the respective program. To explore concerns around trauma, substance abuse, and stigma 5 brief questionnaires were administered during the second interview. Also evaluated were quantitative data such as participant demographics, program take-up and compliance rates, and types of services requested. One-time interviews were also conducted with program social workers, public defenders, prosecutors, probation officers, and judges to explore personal and professional beliefs, resources constraints, and general views on program participants and prostitution. All interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. Observations were also conducted in court, prison, probation, and street settings. Current partial dataset consists of 1 TXT README file, 8 document PDFs, and 21 interview PDFs and will be supplemented by additional materials as they become available
Timeframe: 2011 - 2014
Geographic Coverage: Baltimore (Md.)

Philadelphia (Pa.)

Subject of Study

Subject Domain

Sex Workers

Population Age

Adult (19 years to 64 years)

Subject Gender

Female

Male

Transgender

Keywords

Baltimore

Cisgender People