Finding the Right Fit: Disparities Between Cisgender and Transgender Women Arrested for Prostitution in Baltimore

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Published: Jan 4, 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1936928X.2015.1115797

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MARIE BAILEY-KLOCH
Corey Shmdaimah
Philip Osteen

Abstract

This article highlights gender in Baltimore’s court-affiliatedprostitution diversion program. Administrative data were gatheredover a 19-month period from 616 defendants charged with prosti-tution in Baltimore City. Using logistic regression, gender was astatistically significant predictor for defendants’ history ofsubstance abuse history or mental illness. Transgender defendantswere 81%less likely to report substance abuse (p<.001) and 75%less likely to report mental health problems (p<.001) comparedto cisgender defendants. Qualitative findings indicate thattransgender participants often engage in prostitution due to dis-crimination and that current programming provides them withsome useful assistance. Recommendations include a need to moreappropriately tailor services to the experiences and goals oftransgender participants and to combat stigma within and outsidethe court. Programs must be cognizant of discrimination faced by transgender program participants that may impact the range of options available to them during and after participation.

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How to Cite
MARIE BAILEY-KLOCH, Corey Shmdaimah, & Philip Osteen. (2016). Finding the Right Fit: Disparities Between Cisgender and Transgender Women Arrested for Prostitution in Baltimore. Journal of Forensic Social Work, 5(1-3), 82–97. https://doi.org/10.1080/1936928X.2015.1115797
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Vol. 5 No. 1-3 (2015)
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Articles
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