Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2014, $435,253)
The goal of Smart Prosecution is to develop a body of knowledge about data-driven strategies -- innovative, best practice, or evidence-based -- as they are implemented by prosecutors. Smart Prosecution grantees will identify a problem to be addressed and enlist a local research partner to help assess the effectiveness of their Smart Prosecution effort. Smart Prosecution grants require a research partner.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office will establish a Misdemeanor Prostitution Court (MPC), a structured and targeted intervention program that identifies and treats the needs of prostituted young adults, ages 17-25, who are at an increased risk of further sexual exploitation. The outcomes of the MPC are to increase treatment engagement and improve the psychosocial outcomes and personal safety of MPC participants, and to reduce victimization and criminalization of young adults. The MPC will model the Ten Key Components of a drug court, adding evidence-based assessment tailored to this population and their needs. The research partner will be involved in developing measureable goals for the program and conducting a process and outcome assessment of the MPC. CA/NCF