A Powerhouse of Women

    In class we had to write an essay called, "The Junior Theme". I wrote mine on the why the prostitution business has stayed around till now. Even though I found my topic extremely interesting I also found it a little depressing because I read a lot of horrible stories on the lives prostitutes lead. Also, I focused so much on the negative aspects of life that have kept prostitution around and I never got to shed light on some of the amazing things people are doing to try and stop the business.

Marian Hatcher, working with a women in the Sheriff's
Women's Justice Progam

    An example of one of these amazing programs and people is Marian Hatcher who works at the Sheriff's Women's Justice Program. Marian is a former prostitute that also struggled with mental illness and illegal substance abuse. She "got clean" in 2004 when she was arrested and put into the Sheriff's Women's Justice Program. Clean is just another word for fresh start or a blank slate which is what Marian got going through the program. Now, Marian has dedicated her life to the same program that helped her out.

    The Sheriff's Women's Justice Program works with women who have been arrested by the Cook County Jail for prostitution along with some other reasons. The program sees the arrested women as victims instead of criminals and give them the support they need to leave the dangerous life on the streets. They have parenting classes because many prostitutes actually mother multiple children, they also have support groups, and the most amazing thing I found in the program was the one on one attention from the ladies like Marian who work there with the ladies who are in the program. It seemed like most of the women in the program just needed someone to care about them in order for them to start caring about themselves. If you want to learn more about the program and Marian there is an Oprah Winfrey Network documentary called Prostitution: Leaving the Life.