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Hamilton County Courts "CHANGE" For Those Caught In Sex Trafficking Cases

change court
Flickr Creative Commons
Hamilton County CHANGE Court provides victims of sex trafficking a way to reclaim their lives.

Over the last several years there has been a shift in how law enforcement and social service agencies view those involved in prostitution – a shift from considering sex trafficked individuals as criminals to instead seeing them as victims in need of help.

In 2014 a new program, CHANGE Court, was created in the Hamilton County Courts system to provide a path for victims of sex trafficking to escape the streets and re-claim their lives. CHANGE stands for "Changing Habits And setting New Goals is Empowering."

Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Heather Russell presides over CHANGE Court. She joins "Cincinnati Edition," along with Officer Katie Warner and Specialist Nate Young with the Cincinnati Police Department, who came up with the idea for CHANGE Court.

Tune in to "Cincinnati Edition" May 17 starting at 1 p.m. to hear this segment.