Reducing penalties for prostitution and investing in diversion programs could save the state millions of dollars, according to a new report by the a policy research group.
Right now, a third offense for prostitution is a felony with a sentence of 180 days to two years behind bars. from the state's Legislative Budget Board says the average cost per day, per person for state correctional facilities was , or about $18,250 per person annually.
鈥淭hese are individuals that have gone through a lot of trauma, who have gone through sexual abuse. They didn鈥檛 just wake up one morning and say, 鈥業 want to be a prostitute,鈥�" said Ana Y谩帽ez-Correa, executive director of the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition. "The fact that we can give them a felony is counterproductive, it鈥檚 ineffective, and it鈥檚 costing the taxpayer about $4 million a year.鈥�
A bill by State Representative , D-Dallas, got a hearing at the Capitol on Tuesday. would remove a section of the law that makes repeat prostitution a felony, and it would allow courts to require prostitutes to receive 100 hours of counseling or treatment by a faith-based or nonprofit organization.
