Bridging The Legal Gap Between Survivors & Services

Human trafficking is the intentional exploitation of another human being for profit by forcing or coercing them to engage in sexual conduct or forced labor. Sadly, it happens every day in the United States. Human trafficking is often a “hidden crime” because survivors fear coming forward. Traffickers often use harsh physical and psychological tactics that not only cause short-term pain and trauma but can have a lasting impact, including PTSD, Stockholm Syndrome, anxiety, depression, substance abuse issues, and more. Often survivors are forced to break the law and then are punished as criminals making it harder for them to find employment, housing, and access to education. At Human Trafficking Justice and Freedom International, we believe survivors should not be criminalized due to the crimes they committed while being victimized. If survivors are not at fault for crimes they were forced to achieve, they should never have been arrested and charged; having their record vacated or expunged would right the wrongs and allow them the opportunity to rebuild their lives.