The Franklin County CATCH Court (Changing Actions to Change Habits) now has the statistical backing to prove its program works.

CATCH Court helps human trafficking victims struggling with drug addiction break the cycle of abuse. Dr. Karen Miner-Romanoff and Franklin University evaluated the program in 2014 and 2015 and recently released the results. Her findings, along with statistics gathered from 2009-2013, noted a reduction in prostitution arrests, criminal charges, and days spent in jail for the program’s graduates.

Findings include:

• A reduction in prostitution arrests, from 1,745 in 2009 to 1,129 in 2013.
• No new criminal records for 77 percent of all CATCH Court graduates.

Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Paul Herbert started CATCH Court in 2009. Once the candidates meet certain requirements and graduate from the two-year program, their criminal records are expunged. Judge Herbert received a national award from the U.S. Department of Justice in April for his efforts in combating the human trafficking cycle through CATCH Court.

View the complete study.