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CATCH Court

Changing Actions to Change Habits 
 

What We Do

In Franklin County, Ohio alone, approximately 1,200 women are arrested each year for solicitation. Rather than viewing a woman convicted of a prostitution-related arrest as a criminal, CATCH views her as a victim who needs acceptance, commitment to a structured program, and the unwavering belief in her ability to transform her life from one of dependency to one of freedom.

Our Mission

More than 92% of individuals involved in prostitution want to escape* and are exploited at a young age. CATCH exists to break the cycle of abuse for victims of human trafficking, prostitution, and sexual exploitation by providing resources, community, and accountability. CATCH hopes to provide a model for municipal leaders throughout Ohio and the United States.
*Farley & Kelley, 2000

Our Success in Numbers

80%
National Recidivism Rate for Women in Prostitution
45%
Recidivism Rate for ALL women who have been in CATCH
18%
Recidivism Rate for CATCH graduates
25%
Graduation rate among participants
69
Women have successfully graduated to date


" Something happened to them. Something that was not their fault.
They are a victim. And yet, they are strong, so they must survive. Survive at all costs."

 

— Judge Paul Herbert, Founder of CATCH Court

 

Some Numbers

There are many common threads among participants in the program.

  • 72% grew up in poverty
  • 86% don’t have a HS diploma or GED
  • 93% are mothers
  • 83% have already been linked in the mental health system
  • 94% have been victims of sexual or intimate partner violence
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