Reno Municipal Court Opens Prostitution Court
Many Nevada judicial districts provide drug court programs that attempt to rehabilitate and educate drug offenders instead of simply punishing them with jail, which doesn't treat the root problem anyway. Similarly, Reno Municipal Court recently started a "solicitation court" to help women who've broken Nevada prostitution law by trying to get them off drugs. Chelsie Sutton, who's currently in Washoe County Jail, explained that, "There's a lot of them [prostitutes] that start doing it because they are addicted to drugs and that's the only reason that they are doing it in the first place."
Judge Jim Van Winkle explains that he got the idea for solicitation court from a similar court in Clark County, which has been successful in keeping people convicted of prostitution from becoming repeat offenders: “It was just something I felt it was needed to do something about so we could stop the revolving door problem." Defendants who choose solicitation court submit to frequent drug testing, counseling and court appearances instead of sentencing. The program is partnered with Scarlet Covering, a support group that helps stop women from breaking Nevada prostitution law.
Nevada prostitution law makes it a misdemeanor to offer sex in exchange for money or other property. Penalties include up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine and usually John School. The only places prostitution is legal in Nevada are in licensed brothels.
