CSEC Treatment Courts: An Opportunity for Positive, Trauma-Informed, and Therapeutic Systems Responses in Family and Juvenile Courts

Abstract

This article explores the history and emergence of juvenile treatment courts for survivors of commercial and sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) and the opportunity to use these courts to produce positive therapeutic outcomes for participants. Part I of this article describes therapeutic jurisprudence and trauma-informed court systems. Part II explores the history of treatment courts, the emergence of “prostitution” and human trafficking treatment courts for adults, and the efficacy of treatment courts in general. Part III examines the emergence of CSEC treatment courts within juvenile and family courts over the past decade, specifically looking at program eligibility, goals, structure, mission, and underlying philosophy. Finally, Part IV suggests a model structure for CSEC treatment courts, investigates the therapeutic and antitherapeutic effects, or potential effects, of CSEC treatment courts, and identifies areas for further study to ensure the purposes of CSEC treatment courts—namely, the therapeutic prevention and intervention of CSEC—can be realized.

Keywords: CSEC, child trafficking, sex trafficking, juvenile courts, child welfare, therapeutic jurisprudence