Girl's court

A girl's court is an gender responsive approach for girls in the juvenile justice system that links young "at-risk" females to social service agencies, providing informal sessions on everything from body image, education and counseling with a team of adults to provide trust and support.

Some half dozen such courts have emerged around the United States, each defining itself around the problems in the surrounding area. One common theme is to treat young sex workers as the victims of sex trafficking. Identifying reasons for entry into these behaviors such as childhood abuse and dysfunctional homes is important to understanding the nature of the crime and circumstances unique to girls.

The Orange County Girls court started in 2009. It focuses teenage girls in long-term foster care, with preliminary studies suggesting better grades and fewer placements.

The Alameda County Girls Court handles young women who have been recruited as child prostitutes or are considered at risk for involvement. It was founded in 2011 and carved out of the existing juvenile court. A 2013 survey of 113 sexually exploited youths by WestCoast Children’s Clinic found that 75 percent of such youngsters here and in a neighboring county had experienced abuse and neglect. For example, one girl was found passed out on the street, having injected drugs she could not identify. Another, whose mother, a methamphetamine addict, “sold” her daughter to an uncle who sexually exploited her in exchange for drugs. The county’s H.E.A.T. Watch unit, started by the district attorney in 2006, targets people who traffic in women: as of 2013, 111 exploiters of children under 18 had been convicted. Most girls attend residential treatment programs out of state. Many are re-exploited after returning.

In Los Angeles County, a sex trafficking court diverts girls to local foster care agencies and social service providers, while the probation department now has a dedicated unit to support young victims.

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Wikipedia