JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE
Presiding Judge, County Criminal Court No. 9 (Jan. 2007 – present)
Judge Hoffman began her term as Judge of County Criminal Court No. 9 on January 2, 2007. She has worked hard to lower the number of pending cases in the court and she has reduced the time it takes for a case to go to trial.
Presiding Judge of the County Criminal Courts – (Jan. 2009 – present)
Judge Hoffman was elected by her judicial colleagues to serve as presiding judge of all of the county criminal courts. This position brings more administrative duties in addition to her regular docket
Presiding Judge, PRIDE Court (Jan. 2009 – present)
In response to the large number of women arrested for prostitution who have substance abuse issues and/or mental illness, Judge Hoffman along with the Dallas County Probation Department, District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Dallas Police Department, Dallas Sheriff’s Office and numerous local service providers developed a drug divert specialty court for women charged with misdemeanor prostitution. This Court is called PRIDE Court (Positive Recovery Intensive Divert Experience). The goal of PRIDE Court is to help women who are charged with prostitution be diverted from the judicial system by addressing the underlying issues of why they are committing the crime. Typically, a woman convicted of misdemeanor prostitution serves 10 – 20 days in the county jail. The underlying issue of why these women are prostitutes is never addressed. The women are released after they serve their time and then recommit the crime. The County pays $56.00 a day to have these women in jail. If a woman has been convicted of 3 or more prostitution cases, the next arrest is a felony and this woman potentially could spend years in jail. Instead of spending money on housing these defendants in jail, it is the intent of this collaboration to understand the root of the problem, address the problems and to enable these defendants to become productive members of society.
Most of the women arrested for prostitution have substance abuse issues and/or a mental illness. Many will also have been the victim of some past trauma. This court focuses on these women only because this population needs to have all of these issues addressed at once in a secure and safe environment. The court works closely with several local service providers to ensure that each participant receives the individualized treatment needed for her. The court follows the national drug court model established by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals which has continually proven that judicial intervention has lowered recidivism rates among citizens charged with and/or have substance abuse issues who are in the criminal judicial system. The Court began in January, 2009 and works closely with the Dallas Police Department’s Prostitution Diversion Initiative which brings social services to the women at various truckstops in Dallas one night a month. DPD views these women as victims and believes that by providing a safe and secure opportunity for help, these women will want to stop living this life and become productive members of society.
Member, Dallas County Criminal Justice Advisory Board (March, 2009 – present)
Judge Hoffman has been invited to be a member of the Criminal Justice Advisory Board which is collaboration of community leaders, business leaders and professionals. The Board's task is to open communication among the various agencies throughout the county and to identify opportunities for improvement within the criminal justice system of Dallas County.
Member, Judicial Subcommittee, Dallas County Justice Advisory Board (March, 2009 – present)
Judge Hoffman is a member of this subcommittee whose job is to focus on identifying potential system opportunities and/or barriers that confront the judiciary within the criminal justice system. This subcommittee reports to the Criminal Justice Advisory Board.
Judge Hoffman began her term as Judge of County Criminal Court No. 9 on January 2, 2007. She has worked hard to lower the number of pending cases in the court and she has reduced the time it takes for a case to go to trial.
Presiding Judge of the County Criminal Courts – (Jan. 2009 – present)
Judge Hoffman was elected by her judicial colleagues to serve as presiding judge of all of the county criminal courts. This position brings more administrative duties in addition to her regular docket
Presiding Judge, PRIDE Court (Jan. 2009 – present)
In response to the large number of women arrested for prostitution who have substance abuse issues and/or mental illness, Judge Hoffman along with the Dallas County Probation Department, District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Dallas Police Department, Dallas Sheriff’s Office and numerous local service providers developed a drug divert specialty court for women charged with misdemeanor prostitution. This Court is called PRIDE Court (Positive Recovery Intensive Divert Experience). The goal of PRIDE Court is to help women who are charged with prostitution be diverted from the judicial system by addressing the underlying issues of why they are committing the crime. Typically, a woman convicted of misdemeanor prostitution serves 10 – 20 days in the county jail. The underlying issue of why these women are prostitutes is never addressed. The women are released after they serve their time and then recommit the crime. The County pays $56.00 a day to have these women in jail. If a woman has been convicted of 3 or more prostitution cases, the next arrest is a felony and this woman potentially could spend years in jail. Instead of spending money on housing these defendants in jail, it is the intent of this collaboration to understand the root of the problem, address the problems and to enable these defendants to become productive members of society.
Most of the women arrested for prostitution have substance abuse issues and/or a mental illness. Many will also have been the victim of some past trauma. This court focuses on these women only because this population needs to have all of these issues addressed at once in a secure and safe environment. The court works closely with several local service providers to ensure that each participant receives the individualized treatment needed for her. The court follows the national drug court model established by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals which has continually proven that judicial intervention has lowered recidivism rates among citizens charged with and/or have substance abuse issues who are in the criminal judicial system. The Court began in January, 2009 and works closely with the Dallas Police Department’s Prostitution Diversion Initiative which brings social services to the women at various truckstops in Dallas one night a month. DPD views these women as victims and believes that by providing a safe and secure opportunity for help, these women will want to stop living this life and become productive members of society.
Member, Dallas County Criminal Justice Advisory Board (March, 2009 – present)
Judge Hoffman has been invited to be a member of the Criminal Justice Advisory Board which is collaboration of community leaders, business leaders and professionals. The Board's task is to open communication among the various agencies throughout the county and to identify opportunities for improvement within the criminal justice system of Dallas County.
Member, Judicial Subcommittee, Dallas County Justice Advisory Board (March, 2009 – present)
Judge Hoffman is a member of this subcommittee whose job is to focus on identifying potential system opportunities and/or barriers that confront the judiciary within the criminal justice system. This subcommittee reports to the Criminal Justice Advisory Board.