An Evaluation of the Turn Your Life Around (TYLA) Prostitution Diversion Program

• In Event: Community-Engaged Research and the Trafficking in Persons Research Lab at the University of South Florida

Abstract

Human trafficking courts, also known as prostitution diversion programs, are a newer form of “problem-solving,” or “treatment” courts modeled after drug and mental health courts. As a form of criminal justice diversion, human trafficking courts offer alternatives to incarceration for survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation. These courts offer conditional support or other services to program participants to address the underlying issues that often bring people into the court system. Hence, human trafficking courts aspire to rehabilitate rather than punish “victim-defendants.” This evaluation assesses the effectiveness of Turn Your Life Around (TYLA), a treatment court that seeks to address the core issues surrounding prostitution and sex trafficking. The overarching goal of TYLA is to identify individuals/victims who are being sexually trafficked and provide them with needed resources and strategies to leave the sex trade industry.

Authors

• Emily Walker, University of South Florida

• Rebecca Angela Ruiz, University of California, Irvine

• Emily Walsh, University of South Florida

• Katherine Holman, University of South Florida

• Mateus Renno Santos, University of South Florida

• Fawn Ngo, University of South Florida

• Joan Reid, University of South Florida