The Worcester District Court Probation Department has launched a program, "Developing Alternatives for Women Now (DAWN)," to empower troubled female probationers, with offenses of prostitution and related charges, to abandon this dangerous lifestyle. Program participants met for the first time this month.

DAWN evolved from a series of educational conferences sponsored by the Administrative Trial Court's Judicial Institute, titled "Addressing Prostitution Effectively." Worcester District Court Chief Probation Officer William P. Mattei encouraged Probation Officer Maureen Chamberlain to start a program. Chamberlain drew from the resources and expertise of local social service agencies, businesses and criminal justice agencies to create DAWN.

The eight-week program, open to 15 women, will consist of 90-minute groups run twice a week. Worcester District Court Probation Officers and representatives from the Worcester YWCA Daybreak Program facilitate the groups and will focus on addiction, domestic violence, physical and mental health, self-esteem, self-determination and decision-making. Participants will also have access to detoxification, substance abuse counseling, mental health treatment, health care services, and counseling for victims of violence.

Among the offenders eligible for referral to the DAWN Program are women "with a current arrest for prostitution or a similar charge; women with a current arrest for a drug-related charge and a prior offense for prostitution and women who disclose to their probation officer involvement in prostitution."

"I think everyone was struggling for an answer to this problem. When the women were coming into the court, they are often committed (sent to jail) or fined. Many were going back on the street to make money to pay the fines," said Chamberlain, who will run the program with Worcester District Court Probation Officers Kerry Coakley and Dawnmarie Mahoney who also helped to develop the program.

"It (prostitution) is a problem for the courts, local businesses, and the entire community. There is a lot of frustration," added Chamberlain. "We (probation) have a pretty good knowledge base. We do not expect that this will be the answer to everything. However, what we are hoping to do is help create change."