The Honorable Dimple Malhotra, County Court at Law #4
The purpose of Phoenix Court is to assist commercially sexually exploited persons who are considered victims of abuse. The pre-adjudication program, which lasts 1 to 2 years, aims to make lives more manageable through support and direction of an experienced Court Team by using a holistic approach providing comprehensive, community-based services as participants recover from trauma of sex trade.
Program
The voluntary Pre-adjudication program:
- Consists of 4 phases providing integrated services, to include:
- Case management
- Service linkage to counseling
- Job skills training, employment, education, and medical assistance
- Housing
- Substance use disorder counseling
- Weekly meetings with case manager
- Weekly to bi-monthly court attendance, depending on phase
- Random drug testing
Upon completion, charges will remain dismissed and are eligible for immediate expunction
- Must be 17 years of age or older
- Available to women, men and transgendered individuals
- Must have a current misdemeanor or reduced felony prostitution charge
- May be brought into the program on a charge other than prostitution if a history of prostitution exists
- No violent offenses, though exceptions may be made
- No evidence of being a perpetrator, pimp or trafficker
- Must reside in Travis County
- Assessed as medium to high risk for criminal recidivism
- Assessed as medium to high risk for being in an abusive situation over the past year
- Assessed as having a substance use disorder or PTSD
- Potential participants are identified at Central Booking and are screened by a Counseling & Education Services caseworker for eligibility
- Participation in the program must be agreed to by the County Attorney, Defense Attorney (Judith Bohr and Jessica Bernstein), and Judge
Contact Person
Melanie Collins
(512) 854-3985
