When people first learn about human trafficking, one of the most common reactions is disbelief that someone would continue to stay in such an abusive and dangerous situation. The question that often follows is, “Why don’t they just leave?” This question, though understandable, reflects a lack of understanding about how human trafficking operates, the levels and severity of abuse experienced by survivors, and the complex barriers they face to finding freedom. In reality, leaving a trafficking situation is not a matter of willpower, but a long process of overcoming compounding layers of psychological, emotional, physical, legal, and systemic barriers that are often invisible to the rest of the world.

• Complicated Relationships Between Traffickers & Victims

A significant majority of human trafficking situations involve a complex and pre-existing relationship between the trafficker and their victim. Many are exploited by someone they know and, in many cases, someone they love and trust. Their trafficker may be a parent or grandparent, a trusted adult, a romantic partner, a close friend, or an authority figure like a coach, employer, or community leader. Traffickers will often take advantage of a vulnerable person’s trust in them to start the grooming process, breaking down their boundaries and creating dependence. For many victims, the deep affection and loyalty they feel to their trafficker maintains a strong emotional bond, despite the abuse and mistreatment they experience.

The complexity of the trafficker/victim relationship is often a serious barrier to the survivor’s ability to leave. They may believe that they are betraying or abandoning their trafficker, especially in situations involving family members or romantic partners. Many fear that reporting the exploitation would harm their trafficker, send them to prison, or cost them a job or other relationships. While victims may recognize that they do not deserve to be treated this way, the emotional bond with their trafficker may seem too important to risk. Leaving can cost a trafficking victim an important relationship with family members, friends, or their community. The decision to break these bonds takes incredible courage.

• Psychological Trauma & Trauma Bonds

Every survivor of human trafficking experiences complex trauma, often resulting in debilitating psychological issues that deeply affect their daily lives. 98% of survivors report at least one mental health problem while being trafficked, with an average number of more than 10 concerns. Survivors experience extremely high rates of clinical depression, anxiety disorders, complex PTSD, and other severe psychological conditions. On top of the day-to-day impact of trauma, these serious conditions can significantly impair a trafficking victim’s ability to think clearly, make decisions, or trust their own judgment. Trauma often distorts their perception of safety, healthy relationships, self-worth, and even reality, making it difficult to recognize abuse or believe that a different life is possible. Many survivors feel paralyzed by fear, guilt, shame, or dependence on their trafficker, all of which are intensified by mental health conditions. Without access to comprehensive and trauma-informed support, the mental and emotional weight of their experiences can make leaving feel not just unsafe, but impossible.

Psychological challenges are often compounded by trauma bonds, which are powerful emotional attachments that form when a victim experiences repeated cycles of affection and abuse from their trafficker. The trafficker may provide affection, attention, or gifts in one moment and become abusive in the next. These intermittent reward/punishment cycles create a distorted sense of loyalty or love, making the victim believe that they are at fault, that they are inherently worthless, and that no one else would care for them. This emotional entanglement becomes a significant barrier for trafficking victims to leave their abusers.

• Lack of Access to Basic Necessities

Most trafficking victims do not have access to independent sources of housing, food, or income apart from their trafficker. Survivors may believe that leaving is impossible because they have nowhere to go, no money to buy food or necessities, or even no phone to call for help. These are not theoretical concerns, as many survivors live with the constant threat of homelessness, starvation, or danger on the streets if they act out or try to leave. This is especially true for minor survivors, undocumented individuals, and those without any support systems, safe family members, or access to community services. Survivors frequently report staying in trafficking situations longer because it was the only way to meet their immediate needs.

• Fear of Retaliation & Violence

Traffickers often use threats of physical harm, violence, or assault to maintain control over their victims. These threats can extend beyond their victims to their family, children, or friends, and traffickers frequently prove their willingness to punish their victims through violence. 92% of trafficking survivors report experiencing physical violence during exploitation, including sexual assaults, beatings, and strangulation. The fear of retaliation keeps many trafficking victims in exploitation, as they are forced to choose between staying in a highly dangerous and abusive situation or risking real harm to themselves or someone they love.

• Forced Substance Use & Addiction

Substance use is frequently used by traffickers as a method of control, with some victims forced or coerced into drug or alcohol use and others misusing substances to cope with the trauma. For many trafficking victims, the prospect of leaving becomes even more difficult due to fear of withdrawal, lack of treatment options, or shame. Unfortunately, a significant number of emergency support services, like local shelters, exclude individuals struggling with addiction or with recent substance use. Many survivors believe they will not be believed or helped, especially if they have faced judgment or rejection when attempting to report abuse in the past, making these psychological barriers just as powerful as physical ones. 

• Criminalization & Fear of Law Enforcement

Many survivors are afraid to reach out for help because they fear arrest, deportation, or further abuse by authorities. This fear is often rooted in experience, as trafficking survivors are frequently criminalized for acts they were forced to commit, such as drug use or prostitution. These criminal records create lasting barriers to housing, employment, and legal protection. For undocumented survivors, the fear of deportation is compounded by threats from their traffickers. Even those with legal status may have experienced negative or traumatic encounters with law enforcement, and without trauma-informed responses, attempts to seek help can result in retraumatization or incarceration instead of support.

• Isolation & Emotional Manipulation

Traffickers often isolate victims by cutting them off from friends, family, and any external support systems. This may be done physically by moving them to different locations or emotionally by instilling fear, shame, and distrust. Victims are frequently told that no one will believe them, that they are to blame for their situation, or that they will be arrested if they speak up. This manipulation is especially effective for individuals who are already marginalized, such as LGBTQ+ people, those living with disabilities, or people of color, who may have already experienced rejection or discrimination. The result is a deep sense of powerlessness and disconnection that makes reaching out for help feel impossible.

• Systemic Gaps in Survivor Services

The lack of trauma-informed, survivor-centered services in the United States is a major barrier to freedom. Fewer than 1% of trafficking victims are ever identified, and of those who are, at least 80% are revictimized due to lack of emergency support or access to long-term care. Survivors who attempt to lelave trafficking situations often find themselves without a place to go or may wait weeks or months for a spot in a safe house program. During that time, they remain vulnerable to coercion, exploitation, violence, and homelessness. The limited availability of immediate and comprehensive services often leads survivors back to their traffickers or into another trafficking situation simply to survive.

Understanding how human trafficking affects survivors is essential to understanding why it is so difficult to leave. Instead of asking why survivors don’t leave exploitation, a more accurate question is, “What is preventing them from leaving, and what can we do to help?” The answer lies in recognizing that trafficking is not simply a series of bad choices or isolated events but a system of control that exploits a person’s vulnerabilities and strips away their independence. Survivors need pathways to safety that address both immediate needs and long-term healing, including safe housing, trauma-informed care, legal advocacy, and supportive communities. Effectively addressing the crisis of human trafficking requires us to intentionally dismantle the systems that leave people vulnerable to exploitation and prevent them from finding hope, freedom, and a future.

<p>The post Why Don’t Human Trafficking Victims Leave? first appeared on Safe House Project.</p>

Because so many survivors are trafficked by someone they know, including family members and intimate partners, the experience of human trafficking involves deep relational trauma. These abuses can cause considerable damage to a survivor’s sense of trust and belonging, but healing is possible over time through supportive relationships and intentional community.

How Early Relationships Shape Us

As humans, our first relationships are powerful determinants of how we view ourselves and those around us. For many trafficking survivors, early connections were marked by instability, abuse, or neglect. Whether through family violence, time in foster care, or a lack of real safety, childhood trauma can make it very difficult to form secure relationships later in life.

These early wounds can become vulnerabilities, as traffickers frequently seek out people’s unmet needs for love or belonging and exploit them. Many survivors of human trafficking experienced trauma early in their lives, including neglect or abuse. Kids who spend time in foster care or the juvenile justice system are especially vulnerable, since most have high ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) scores and other risk factors for trafficking victimization. These early traumas shape how the brain responds to relationships, making it more challenging to recognize unhealthy dynamics. Because of this, most traffickers depend on emotional manipulation and trauma bonds to control their victims rather than physical force, multiplying relational trauma.

Why Community Matters for Healing

For survivors, relational healing truly begins when someone chooses to show up consistently and without judgment. Many survivors can point to a certain person with whom they experienced genuine connection, helping them dismantle the trauma-related belief that all relationships bring the risk of harm. Whether a friend, mentor, caseworker, or neighbor, the steady presence of a compassionate person can create an emotionally safe environment that directly contrasts the dynamics of a trafficking experience. 

When someone lives in a state of perpetual danger, as trafficking survivors do, their brains adapt quickly to help them survive and prevent further abuse. The amygdala becomes hyperactive and constantly scans for threats, making survivors feel on edge or overwhelmed even in safe environments. Other parts of the brain, including the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, may become less active, affecting memory, concentration, and emotional regulation. While these responses are involuntary, they are highly effective in helping survivors endure trauma in the moment. Once they exit exploitation, however, those same neurological changes can make everyday life feel unfamiliar and unsafe. When daily activities are interpreted as potentially dangerous, rebuilding trust, managing emotional responses, and forming healthy relationships can seem like uphill battles for survivors.

Supportive relationships play an important role in neurological healing, as a consistent, calm, and de-escalating presence can help reduce a survivor’s anxiety and signal safety to their nervous system. Over time, survivors will experience more manageable responses to triggers, learn emotional regulation skills, and become more able to engage in close relationships without fear or distrust.

Building Trauma-Informed Communities

Creating spaces where survivors can engage in safe connection requires intentional care and understanding of the challenges they face. Trauma-informed communities often practice:

• Consistency — Following through on promises, showing up, and maintaining reliable relationships helps survivors rebuild their ability to trust.

• • Compassion — Nonjudgmental, empathetic support creates space for survivors to be emotionally honest and vulnerable.
  • Agency — Encouraging survivors to make their own decisions fosters autonomy and confidence.
  • Cultural Awareness — Recognizing and celebrating the diversity of survivors’ experiences and backgrounds helps create a deeper sense of safety and inclusion.

• Active Participation — Inviting survivors into leadership roles in survivor-focused spaces honors their expertise and helps shape more effective support systems.

Recovery from human trafficking is a lifelong journey shaped by many types of relationships. Survivors may need support through therapy or safe housing, but they can also find healing through ordinary moments of connection: shared meals, phone calls, and genuine conversation with compassionate community members.

Every person can play a role in supporting trafficking survivors by being present, consistent, and thoughtful. Healing takes time and often involves a cycle of growth and setbacks, but when survivors are surrounded by people who remain committed to their well-being, the path becomes more stable and more hopeful.

<p>The post Community as Care for Human Trafficking Survivors first appeared on Safe House Project.</p>

Survivor stories have become a powerful tool in raising awareness about human trafficking. Through nonprofit campaigns, documentaries, and public speaking events, these narratives can inspire change, influence policy, and help dismantle stigma. For survivors themselves, storytelling can also serve as a way to reclaim agency, identity, and voice.

However, when these stories are shared without proper care, preparation, or respect, the impact can shift from healing to harmful. Even well-meaning efforts to spotlight survivor experiences can result in retraumatization, misrepresentation, or emotional harm, especially when ethical practices are not in place.

Organizations, media professionals, and advocates all share a responsibility to protect the emotional safety and agency of the individuals whose stories they help tell.

Recognizing the Risks

Public storytelling involves revisiting deeply personal and painful experiences. Without trauma-informed support and clear boundaries, survivors may feel overwhelmed or exposed. Some have reported being unprepared for the emotional toll of interviews or events, while others say they felt like props used to inspire donations or sympathy rather than people with autonomy and complexity.

When survivor stories are edited without input, repurposed for broader appeal, or stripped of nuance, the result is often an erosion of trust. Even unintentional choices, such as altering timelines or framing narratives to generate a specific emotional response, can cause significant psychological and emotional stress for survivors. These experiences highlight the need to move away from extractive storytelling and toward collaborative, survivor-centered engagement.

Building Ethical Storytelling Practices

Ethical storytelling starts with one key principle: stories should be told with survivors, not about them. This means giving survivors control over how their stories are shaped, where they are shared, and whether they are shared at all. Several best practices help ensure storytelling remains safe and respectful:

• Ongoing, informed consent: Survivors must understand how their story will be used and have the right to change their minds at any point. Consent should never be treated as a one-time formality.
• Emotional preparation and training: Many survivors have never participated in interviews or public speaking before. Media literacy coaching and boundary-setting can help survivors feel safe and confident.
• Support throughout the process: Emotional check-ins, grounding strategies, and access to trained support people can make storytelling more manageable and less overwhelming.
• Respect for narrative boundaries: Survivors have the right to decide which parts of their story to share and which to keep private. They should never feel pressured to provide details for the sake of audience impact.
• Transparency and accountability: Survivors should be aware of the goals of the project, the intended audience, and who may benefit from their participation. Open communication builds trust and allows for meaningful collaboration.

A Field-Wide Commitment

Ethical storytelling honors the humanity, agency, and insight of trafficking survivors. It keeps survivor well-being central throughout the process, from initial conversations to final publication. When survivors are supported to share their stories in ways that feel safe and empowering, storytelling becomes a meaningful part of healing and a powerful tool for change. These stories have the potential to build trust, deepen understanding, and challenge harmful stereotypes, strengthening the anti-trafficking movement by reinforcing our commitment to meaningful and survivor-led impact.

<p>The post Ethical Storytelling: Why Survivor-Centered Media Representation Matters first appeared on Safe House Project.</p>

WHY LONG-TERM SUPPORT MATTERS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS

Identification Is Just the Beginning

Survivors of human trafficking face an uphill battle — not just in leaving their traffickers but in rebuilding their lives afterward. While emergency shelters and crisis response programs play a crucial role in helping survivors leave exploitation, they are only the first step in a much longer journey. Without access to stable housing, healthcare, mental health support, employment, and legal advocacy, many survivors struggle to heal and are at high risk of re-exploitation.

Addressing human trafficking does not end with identification and emergency support. Finding healing and stability is often a lifelong process, and continued support makes a significant difference in the milestones survivors are able to achieve. Long-term care is essential to empowering survivors to healing after exploitation, building independence, and finding true freedom and hope.

Why Long-Term Support Matters

Survivors of trafficking often suffer from severe physical, psychological, and emotional trauma. Many develop complex PTSD, anxiety, depression, or other serious mental health conditions. They may suffer from chronic pain, malnutrition or eating disorders, and reproductive health issues related to their experiences. These challenges don’t simply disappear when a survivor leaves a trafficking situation, and many of these conditions continue to impact them for the rest of their lives.

One of the biggest challenges survivors face is economic instability. Many lack work experience, formal education, or even identification documents, making it extremely difficult to find stable employment. Without financial security, survivors are more vulnerable to homelessness, substance abuse, and further exploitation​.

The Gaps in Survivor Services

While some long-term services exist, many survivors struggle to access them due to various barriers, including:

• Limited Safe Housing: Many residential programs last only one to two years, leaving survivors without continued support after completing the program. Long waitlists and strict eligibility requirements further limit access​ to services designed for longer-term support.
• Mental Health Care Shortages: Few therapists specialize in trafficking-related trauma, and the cost of care is often too high for survivors without adequate insurance. Additionally, stigma and fear of judgment deter many from seeking treatment​.
• Employment Challenges: Criminal records from trafficking-related offenses, gaps in work history, and discrimination make it difficult for survivors to secure stable jobs​.
• Legal Barriers: Many survivors need help expunging criminal records, obtaining identification, and navigating immigration or custody cases, but trafficking-specific legal aid is underfunded and difficult to access​.

The Future of Survivor Support

To create lasting freedom for survivors, a holistic, survivor-centered approach is necessary. This includes:

• Expanding housing programs to include longer-term options with continued support services.
• Increasing mental health resources with trauma-informed care tailored to survivors’ unique needs.
• Strengthening job training programs and partnerships with businesses to provide meaningful employment opportunities.
• Improving access to legal services to help survivors remove barriers to independence.
• Enhancing collaboration across sectors—law enforcement, healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations, and businesses must work together to create a seamless, effective support network​.

A Call to Action

Helping survivors escape their trafficking situation is only the beginning. To truly ensure that survivors can reclaim their lives, we must invest in long-term care and create systems that support their healing, stability, and independence. Governments, businesses, nonprofits, and community members all have a role to play in empowering survivors to move beyond surviving into lifelong healing.

By prioritizing long-term solutions and removing barriers to care, we can equip survivors to build new lives, free from the threat of re-exploitation. Human trafficking is not just a crisis of today — it is a long-term battle that requires sustained commitment, resources, and compassion. Together, we can break the cycle of trafficking for good.

<p>The post Beyond Immediate Care: Why Long Term Support Matters for Human Trafficking Survivors first appeared on Safe House Project.</p>

This is why we do what we do. 

At Safe House Project, we fight every day to ensure that survivors of trafficking have access to real care, real support, and a real chance at healing. Too often, the systems in place fail to provide a timely or meaningful response when survivors reach out for help. The words below, written by a survivor we had the privilege of serving, were sent just last week to Safe House Project CEO Kristi Wells. This powerful message is a reminder of what happens when survivors are met with dignity, love, and unwavering support—not endless hold times and bureaucratic dead ends. 

Survivors deserve better. They deserve to be heard, to be seen, and to be given the opportunity to reclaim their futures. This letter is a testament to what happens when care is done right, when survivors are prioritized, and when action replaces apathy. 

At Safe House Project, we will always put survivors first. 

Hi,
I hope that you have been doing well. I just wanted to say that I can’t believe that exactly one year ago today, I was flying from Charlotte on my way to a program. Time has gone by so quickly. I remember being excited to call you a day or two later and letting you know how wonderful everything was going. Even though things didn’t work out as planned, I will be forever grateful for all that you and SHP did for me. To be honest, it was among the best times in my entire life. I had never experienced that feeling of genuine hope and love before. After being at the program for a while, I was actually content and excited for my future. I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity of a lifetime.

Also, I recently saw your article/interview on Fox News. Back in 2022, my friend actually called the hotline multiple times, only to become very frustrated over extremely long wait times and the fact that nobody answered. Due to this, she decided to do some research online and that is how she discovered your organization. Years ago, I found and called the hotline number, but it was pointless; either, nobody answered or they couldn’t help me. The Suicide Hotline, at least the old one, was the same way. I hope things change for the better. The world is a better place because of what you are doing. I was very lucky to have been impacted by your work. Take care.
Thank you, 

E 

<p>The post This is why we do what we do. first appeared on Safe House Project.</p>

Why Survivor Autonomy Matters 

 Survivor autonomy is not just about basic decision-making; it is about restoring dignity, agency, and control after those fundamental rights were taken. Traffickers manipulate, coerce, and isolate victims, stripping them of independence. To break this cycle, we must do more than support their exit from exploitation and provide services—we must create systems that actively empower survivors to choose their path forward. 

Many existing programs and policies, while well-intentioned, fail to center survivor autonomy. We see this in: 

• Referral systems that push survivors into programs without considering their individual needs.
• Legal processes that exclude survivors from shaping policies that directly impact them.
• Well-meaning advocates making decisions on survivors’ behalf rather than equipping them with choices.

These gaps create barriers to meaningful recovery, leaving many survivors feeling unheard and unsupported. If we are serious about eradicating trafficking, we must prioritize solutions that return power to survivors, not simply dictate what they need. 

Solutions That Support Survivor Choice 

Developing survivor-informed policies and services requires a shift in mindset—from treating survivors as passive recipients of aid to active participants in shaping their future. Here’s what that looks like in practice: 

1. Survivor-Led Program Development

Survivors must be at the decision-making table. Policies, services, and anti-trafficking initiatives should be co-created with those who have lived experience. When survivors help design programs, those programs become more relevant, effective, and responsive to real-world needs. 

2. Expanding Accessible and Flexible Support Options

 Survivors need options. One-size-fits-all solutions do not work. Whether it’s housing, legal aid, or job training, survivors should be able to choose what best fits their situation—not be forced into pre-set pathways that may not align with their needs. 

3. Respecting the Right to Privacy and Safety

Many survivors hesitate to seek help because of fears around law enforcement involvement, exposure of personal information, or re-traumatization. Systems must protect survivor confidentiality and ensure they feel safe making decisions about their next steps. 

4. Economic Empowerment and Long-Term Stability

 Survivors need more than crisis response—they need economic independence. Job training, career pathways, and financial literacy programs should be embedded into survivor services so they can build a future where they are not vulnerable to re-exploitation. 

The Urgency of Now 

Survivors, advocates, and frontline professionals alike are tired of systems that don’t work. We hear the frustration from those who have waited 45 minutes on a hotline only to receive outdated referrals, who have been placed into programs without choice, and who have struggled to navigate a system that doesn’t listen. 

We can and must do better. 

Survivor autonomy should be a cornerstone of anti-trafficking efforts, not an afterthought. By designing survivor-centered solutions that return power and choice, we move beyond rhetoric and toward real, sustainable change. 

The fight against human trafficking is not just about removing individuals from exploitation—it’s about ensuring they have the freedom, resources, and support to reclaim their lives on their own terms. 

If we want lasting impact, we must ask ourselves: Are we truly empowering survivors, or are we just managing them? The difference between those two approaches will determine whether we create real solutions—or continue repeating the same mistakes. 

It’s time to choose better. Survivors deserve nothing less. 

<p>The post Empowering Survivor Autonomy: A Critical Step in Combatting Human Trafficking first appeared on Safe House Project.</p>

WHY CIVIL LEGAL REMEDIES MATTER

Survivors of human trafficking in the United States face an uphill battle even after escaping their traffickers. Many are burdened with criminal records tied directly to their exploitation, making it difficult to secure employment, housing, education, and financial stability. Despite widespread efforts to prosecute traffickers, survivors frequently find themselves punished by the legal system instead of protected. Addressing this injustice requires both systemic change and survivor-centered civil legal remedies to truly support their path to recovery.

The Criminalization of Survivors

The criminal justice system often fails to identify victims of human trafficking, instead arresting them for crimes they were coerced or forced into committing. Research shows that more than 90% of trafficking survivors in the U.S. have been arrested at least once, with many experiencing multiple arrests. Law enforcement officials may not recognize signs of trafficking, leading to prosecutions for offenses like prostitution, drug possession, theft, or fraud — acts often carried out under the threat of violence or psychological manipulation.

Even after leaving their traffickers, survivors face the lingering consequences of their criminal records. A 2016 National Survivor Network survey found that 73% of survivors struggle to secure employment, while 58% experience housing insecurity due to their criminal history. Without stable employment or housing, survivors remain at high risk for re-exploitation, continuing the cycle of victimization.

The Legal System’s Double Standard

Despite the immense challenges survivors face, traffickers often evade true justice. Fewer than 35% of survivors report that their trafficker was ever arrested, and even when arrests occur, charges are frequently dismissed. This stark disparity highlights a systemic failure: while survivors are criminalized for their coerced actions, traffickers and their enablers continue their exploitation with impunity.

Civil Legal Remedies: A Path to Justice

Civil legal remedies offer survivors a chance to reclaim their lives by addressing both the legal and financial consequences of their exploitation. Unlike criminal cases, which focus on punishing offenders, civil remedies prioritize compensating survivors and restoring their rights. Key legal avenues include:

Civil Lawsuits

• The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) allows survivors to sue not only their traffickers but also businesses or organizations that knowingly benefited from trafficking.
• These lawsuits can target hotels, websites, banks, transportation companies, and landlords who profited from trafficking activities.
• Because the burden of proof in civil court is lower than in criminal cases, survivors have a greater chance of success in securing financial compensation and validation of their experiences.

Criminal Record Relief

• Survivors can seek to vacate, expunge, or seal their records for offenses committed under duress.
• Vacatur laws nullify convictions entirely, recognizing that survivors should never have been prosecuted in the first place.
• Expungement laws remove convictions from public records, allowing survivors to legally deny past arrests.
• Sealing laws protect survivors from discrimination while still allowing government agencies access to their records.
• These remedies significantly improve survivors’ access to employment, housing, education, and public benefits.

Holding Systems Accountable

Expanding access to civil legal remedies not only empowers survivors but also forces systemic change. Holding traffickers and complicit businesses financially accountable discourages future exploitation, prompting industries to adopt stronger anti-trafficking policies. Additionally, comprehensive criminal record relief legislation acknowledges the injustice of punishing victims for their exploitation.

A Call to Action

Survivors deserve more than just freedom from their traffickers—they deserve a fair chance at rebuilding their lives. Expanding access to civil legal remedies is crucial in breaking the cycle of criminalization and enabling true independence. Advocacy efforts must focus on ensuring all survivors have the legal tools they need to erase the injustices of their past and secure their futures.

By shifting the focus from punishment to empowerment, we can begin to correct the injustices survivors face and create a legal system that truly supports their recovery.

JUSTICE FOR SURVIVORS

WHY CIVIL LEGAL REMEDIES ARE KEY TO RECOVERY FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS

Survivors of human trafficking in the United States often face profound legal consequences as a direct result of their exploitation, including serious convictions that deeply impact their ability to leave trafficking situations, maintain their independence, and build stability in independence. Because the focus of anti-trafficking efforts is often on prosecuting traffickers, the legal system frequently fails to recognize survivors as victims. Instead, they are arrested, charged, and convicted for crimes in which their participation was coerced or forced. Criminal records follow survivors long after they exit trafficking, creating overwhelming barriers to employment, housing, education, and financial stability. Understanding these legal repercussions and ensuring access to legal remedies, such as criminal record relief and civil litigation, is crucial for trafficking survivors to truly move beyond exploitation and into freedom.

Legal Consequences of Trafficking

Many human trafficking survivors — especially those forced into commercial sex — are criminalized rather than protected when encountering law enforcement. Over 90% of U.S. survivors report being arrested at least once, and most report multiple arrests for crimes they were coerced or forced to participate in. Law enforcement officers frequently fail to identify trafficking indicators, leading to survivors being prosecuted for offenses such as prostitution, drug possession, theft, or fraud. Many traffickers manipulate their victims into engaging in illegal activities as an additional form of control, later threatening to report them to the police to force compliance. In extreme cases, traffickers convince their victims that they were not only involved in criminal activity but also culpable for it.

Tragically, fewer than 35% of trafficking survivors report knowing that their trafficker had ever been arrested. The majority of traffickers who are arrested are never charged or investigated for trafficking-related crimes, and most survivors say those charges were dismissed more often than not. This severe lack of accountability within the justice system for the perpetrators of such severe crimes, while punishing victims for activities outside of their control, enables far too many traffickers to freely continue their crimes.

Even after escaping their traffickers, trafficking survivors regularly face the consequences of their criminal history, regardless of their ability to refuse to participate in the crimes. A 2016 National Survivor Network survey found that 73% struggle to secure employment due to their criminal records, and 58% reported experiencing housing insecurity for the same reason. This continued impact is particularly troubling when considering that lack of stable housing and unemployment are among the most significant factors in creating vulnerabilities to trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Other frequently reported barriers by survivors with criminal histories include a lack of access to federal benefits (such as food stamps), educational opportunities, maintaining custody of children, and obtaining and building credit. With such incredible challenges to achieving fundamental stability, it is no wonder that so many trafficking survivors struggle to reintegrate into society.

Civil Legal Remedies

Civil legal remedies enable survivors to seek compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial damages they suffered during their trafficking experience. Unlike criminal cases, which focus on punishing perpetrators, civil remedies center on compensating victims and restoring their rights.

Legal avenues for civil remedies for survivors include filing lawsuits against their traffickers or third-party facilitators, as well as corporations or employers involved in labor trafficking. Survivors may also pursue criminal record relief to minimize or remove the impact of past offenses on their current opportunities. In some states, survivors have access to restitution or compensation funds as victims of crimes or even restitution orders, which require traffickers to pay damages to their victims.

All of these methods of civil legal remedies offer an alternative path to justice for survivors that removes the unfair consequences of their victimization and restores opportunities for their futures. Many of these processes also hold traffickers, facilitators, and enablers accountable for their crimes or inaction, contributing significantly to industries changing their practices and reconsidering their duty to respond to trafficking.

Civil Lawsuits

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) empowers survivors to file civil lawsuits against their traffickers, as well as third parties who knowingly benefited from their exploitation. Third parties often include:

• • Hospitality companies, such as hotels and motels, that ignore the signs of trafficking and profit from it occurring on their properties
  • Websites and social media platforms, such as online listings or pornography sites, that facilitate the process of trafficking and buying
  • Financial institutions, such as banks or payment processing platforms, that enable traffickers to conduct their illegal activities
  • Transportation companies, such as airlines, bus lines, and rideshare services, that are used to move victims in the course of their exploitation

• Corporate landlords or rental platforms, such as property management companies or Airbnb, that profit from trafficking occurring on their properties

In contrast to criminal cases, which focus on punishing traffickers, civil lawsuits can provide direct financial relief to survivors. Because the burden of proof required in a civil court is much lower than in a criminal court (where the defendant must be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt), survivors have a greater chance of winning their case and obtaining financial compensation, as well as some level of validation of the injustice of their victimization.

Criminal Record Relief

One of the most impactful tools available to address the legal consequences of a trafficking experience is criminal record relief, which empowers survivors to clear their records for offenses committed while being exploited. Removing trafficking-related convictions helps survivors gain employment and financial stability, secure housing, access higher education and professional licensing, and build protective factors to minimize their continued vulnerability to continued exploitation.

Common types of criminal record relief include vacatur laws, through which states allow survivors to erase convictions for crimes committed as a direct result of trafficking, and expungement or record sealing, which removes a survivor’s criminal records from public access. 

• • Vacatur nullifies a conviction entirely, eliminating it from the survivor’s record and removing the possibility that it could impact their opportunities for employment, housing, education, or public assistance. For example, if a survivor was arrested, charged, and convicted of prostitution while being sex trafficked, a vacatur law acknowledges they should never have been convicted in the first place — an important distinction for survivors seeking justice after exploitation. It removes both the conviction and its potential future consequences for the survivor’s opportunities, essentially undoing as much of the damage as possible.

• Expungement removes convictions from a survivor’s criminal record, clearing the offense from all searchable information. Survivors with expunged criminal activity can legally say they were never arrested or convicted, and background checks will not be able to access the expunged records. This method of criminal record relief allows survivors to apply for jobs, housing, education, and public assistance without fear of discrimination based on their past offenses, but it does not include a legal acknowledgement that the convictions should not have existed in the first place.

• Sealing hides a survivor’s criminal offenses from public records and background checks but does not erase it. Employers, landlords, and the general public will be unable to access the record, but other governmental agencies, such as law enforcement and the courts, will still be able to see it. Sealing provides a level of privacy for survivors, protecting them from job or housing discrimination, but fails to protect them from consequences on their immigration status, security clearances, or professional licensing.

Barring a few exceptions, vacatur relief can be granted for any number of a survivor’s convictions and nearly any crime, assuming that the crimes were committed as a result of trafficking. It can also be applied to convictions after the survivor has left exploitation, as long as they are also linked to their trafficking experience. In contrast, expungement laws include restrictions on the number and type of convictions considered, as well as the amount of time since the convictions occurred. Many survivors may be eligible for some level of expungement for their criminal record but rarely qualify for the extent needed to fully clear their offenses and eliminate the effects on their daily lives. For these reasons, vacatur is considered the most comprehensive, effective, and just remedy for trafficking survivors with criminal records, especially because it acknowledges that they should never have been criminalized in the first place.

Each of these methods — vacatur, expungement, and sealing — helps to alleviate the burden of forced or coerced criminal activity for trafficking survivors, but they differ widely in their legal impact, accessibility, and implementation throughout the United States. Few states offer vacatur or expungement for trafficking-related convictions, and some only allow relief for specific offenses, such as prostitution, while ignoring the prevalence of other serious convictions among trafficking survivors, such as illegal drug activity or violent crimes. Other challenges to obtaining criminal record relief include time restrictions requiring survivors to adhere to a waiting period, the need to hire legal representation, and the time-consuming nature of the legal process, all of which may strongly discourage or prevent survivors from pursuing relief.

Barriers to Access

Despite their importance in survivors’ journeys toward recovery, civil legal remedies can be incredibly difficult to pursue, especially for survivors who have recently exited trafficking and are in the process of initial healing. Key barriers to accessing civil legal remedies include:

• Lack of Awareness:  Many survivors are unaware that what they have experienced is human trafficking, and accepting that term can be difficult. Often, survivors must progress in their healing journey to learn about their legal rights in their situation and feel equipped to begin the process of seeking relief. The legal process can be intimidating, especially for individuals who have severe trauma and must speak about their experiences in order to obtain relief. Many trafficking survivors may never choose to pursue civil legal remedies due to the fear, stigma, or pain of remembering their exploitation.

• Fear of Retaliation:  Traffickers frequently threaten their victims with the justice system as a method of control, promising to turn them in to law enforcement or immigration officials if they don’t comply with their demands. This fear of the justice system can persist long after a survivor has found freedom, and many survivors report a deep distrust or caution of police. Most survivors have been detained or arrested and are afraid of interactions with law enforcement, regardless of whether they have done anything wrong. These barriers can significantly impact their willingness to seek civil legal remedies, as retribution from their trafficker or criminal prosecution for offenses committed during exploitation can be tremendously powerful threats.

• Financial & Emotional Burdens:  Seeking civil legal remedies can take a long time, consume many resources, and be severely emotionally draining. Survivors must share their stories with people they do not know well and may not trust, adding to the likelihood of experiencing flashbacks, trauma symptoms, and emotional strain. Hiring legal representation can be very costly, and many survivors struggle to make ends meet after a trafficking experience. Many survivors may never have the resources or be willing to make the sacrifice of their well-being to pursue civil legal remedies without comprehensive external support.

• Statute of Limitations:  Some survivors do not recognize their victimization as trafficking for years after they exit, and many more are not equipped to pursue remedies quickly. This can result in survivors facing expiring statutes of limitations, limiting their ability to seek justice through civil legal remedies. While federal law extends the statutes of limitations for trafficking-related crimes, state laws vary widely and can eliminate opportunities for survivors.

Expanding Access to Justice

To ensure that civil legal remedies are accessible, effective, and equitably available to trafficking survivors, members of every industry must collaborate to break down these immense barriers. Key strategies include:

• Providing Legal Aid & Pro Bono Services:  Increasing funding for legal aid organizations and incentivizing law firms to take trafficking cases pro bono can expand survivors’ ability to pursue civil legal remedies. This must go beyond responding to survivors’ requests for help to be truly effective — these services need to seek out opportunities to serve survivors who may not know that these avenues are available to them and provide comprehensive support throughout the process.

• Policy Reforms:  Strengthening state-level statutes of limitations, improving the availability of expungement and vacatur laws, and expanding eligibility for victim compensation programs will remove significant barriers to relief for survivors. Each of these steps should be approached from the perspective of providing survivors with every possible opportunity to recover from their experiences.

• Survivor-Centered Legal Advocacy:  Access to trauma-informed legal representation ensures that trafficking survivors receive compassionate and effective support throughout the legal process — a critical element in many survivors’ willingness to participate at all. Greater support and training for legal aid organizations and private attorneys to take on these sensitive cases will increase survivors’ opportunities to work with experts who make them feel comfortable, supported, and dignified throughout the deeply challenging process of seeking civil legal remedies.

• Public Awareness & Training:  The first step for individual survivors to access civil legal remedies is to know that they are available. Educating survivors, attorneys, judges, and law enforcement alike about civil legal remedies will increase utilization by survivors, as well as engagement from the justice system in recommending these opportunities to survivors.

Civil legal remedies are a critical but underutilized tool in the fight against human trafficking. By providing survivors with opportunities for restitution, record clearing, and holding perpetrators accountable, these legal avenues help build a future where justice is truly survivor-centered. Expanding access to civil litigation and strengthening legal protections will not only aid individual survivors but also contribute to the broader effort to dismantle trafficking networks and prevent future exploitation.

Justice for Survivors: The Role of Civil Legal Remedies in Human Trafficking Cases

Survivors of human trafficking face a long and complex road to justice. While criminal prosecutions against traffickers are essential, they do not fully address the harm inflicted on victims. Civil legal remedies offer another path to justice—one that empowers survivors to seek financial restitution, hold traffickers and enabling entities accountable, and rebuild their lives. Here, we explore the key aspects of civil legal remedies for human trafficking survivors and their impact on the fight against exploitation.

Understanding Civil Legal Remedies for Human Trafficking Survivors

Civil legal remedies enable survivors to seek compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial damages they suffered due to trafficking. Unlike criminal cases, which focus on punishing perpetrators, civil lawsuits center on compensating victims and restoring their rights. These legal avenues include:

1. Civil Lawsuits Against Traffickers
   Survivors can sue their traffickers for damages, including unpaid wages, emotional distress, and other harms caused by their exploitation. The federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) allows survivors to bring cases against individuals and entities that benefitted from trafficking, even if they did not directly participate in the crime.

    

2. Suits Against Third-Party Facilitators
   Many trafficking cases involve businesses that knowingly or negligently facilitated exploitation. Hotels, online platforms, transportation services, and landlords can be held liable under certain conditions. Civil lawsuits against these entities can lead to industry-wide changes, incentivizing businesses to implement anti-trafficking measures.

    

3. Employment and Wage Claims
   Many survivors of labor trafficking were forced to work under illegal conditions, with little to no pay. Through civil litigation, they can recover stolen wages and challenge exploitative labor practices.

    

4. Expungement and Vacatur of Criminal Records
   Many trafficking survivors are arrested for crimes they were forced to commit while being exploited, such as prostitution, drug offenses, or identity fraud. Expungement or vacatur laws allow survivors to clear these records, removing barriers to employment, housing, and education.

    

5. Access to Restitution and Compensation Funds
   Many states offer crime victim compensation programs that provide financial assistance for medical care, mental health services, lost wages, and relocation costs. Survivors may also be eligible for restitution orders, requiring traffickers to pay damages directly to their victims.

    

Barriers to Accessing Civil Legal Remedies

While civil remedies offer a powerful tool for justice, survivors face significant obstacles in pursuing them. Some of the key challenges include:

• Legal Complexity and Lack of Awareness
  Many survivors are unaware of their legal rights or lack access to attorneys specializing in trafficking cases. The legal process can be intimidating, especially for individuals who have experienced severe trauma.

   

• Fear of Retaliation
  Survivors often fear retribution from their traffickers or criminal prosecution for offenses committed during their exploitation. Confidentiality protections and legal advocacy are crucial to ensuring survivors feel safe pursuing justice.

   

• Financial and Emotional Burden
  Litigation can be lengthy and emotionally draining. Survivors may struggle with trauma, housing instability, and financial insecurity, making it difficult to engage in legal proceedings.

   

• Statute of Limitations
  Some survivors do not recognize their victimization until years after their trafficking experience. While federal law extends the statute of limitations for trafficking-related claims, state laws vary, sometimes limiting survivors’ ability to seek justice.

   

Why Civil Legal Remedies Matter

Providing survivors with access to civil legal remedies is crucial for long-term recovery and prevention. These legal actions:

• Empower Survivors – Giving survivors a voice in the legal system helps restore their dignity and autonomy. Civil cases allow survivors to tell their stories on their terms, rather than as witnesses in a criminal prosecution.
• Hold Perpetrators and Facilitators Accountable – Beyond criminal convictions, civil cases send a strong message that trafficking will not be tolerated. Holding businesses accountable also promotes stronger anti-trafficking policies and corporate responsibility.
• Secure Financial Resources for Survivors – Compensation from civil lawsuits can help survivors regain stability, access healthcare, and pursue education or employment opportunities.
• Drive Systemic Change – High-profile lawsuits against traffickers and third-party facilitators push policymakers, law enforcement, and industries to strengthen protections against trafficking.

Moving Forward: Expanding Access to Justice

To ensure that civil legal remedies are accessible and effective, stakeholders must work together to break down barriers. Key strategies include:

• Legal Aid and Pro Bono Services – Increasing funding for legal aid organizations and incentivizing law firms to take trafficking cases pro bono can expand survivor access to justice.
• Policy Reforms – Strengthening state-level statutes of limitations, improving expungement laws, and expanding eligibility for victim compensation programs can remove barriers to relief.
• Survivor-Centered Legal Advocacy – Trauma-informed legal representation ensures that survivors receive compassionate and effective support throughout the legal process.
• Public Awareness and Training – Educating survivors, attorneys, judges, and law enforcement about civil legal remedies increases utilization and improves case outcomes.

Conclusion

Civil legal remedies are a critical but underutilized tool in the fight against human trafficking. By providing survivors with opportunities for restitution, record clearing, and holding perpetrators accountable, these legal avenues help build a future where justice is truly survivor-centered. Expanding access to civil litigation and strengthening legal protections will not only aid individual survivors but also contribute to the broader effort to dismantle trafficking networks and prevent exploitation.

Using Civil Legal Remedies to Bring Justice to Survivors of Human Trafficking

Human trafficking survivors face significant barriers to justice and recovery, often leaving exploitation with little financial security, limited access to healthcare, and deep emotional scars. While criminal prosecution is an essential tool in holding traffickers accountable, civil legal remedies offer survivors another critical pathway to justice, financial stability, and long-term healing.

In a recent Safe House Project webinar, legal expert Gregory Czarczar explored the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) and how civil litigation can be a powerful tool for survivors to hold not only their traffickers accountable but also the industries and institutions that knowingly benefit from trafficking.

Understanding Civil Litigation Under the TVPRA

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) was first passed in 2000, establishing federal criminal penalties for human trafficking. In 2003, it was reauthorized as the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) and included a critical new provision: the right for survivors to file civil lawsuits against their traffickers.

Originally, survivors could only sue their direct traffickers, but in 2008, Congress expanded the law, allowing lawsuits against any entity or individual who knowingly benefited from trafficking, or “should have known” they were financially profiting from it. This change allowed survivors to seek justice against hotels, websites, financial institutions, transportation services, and other industries that enable trafficking operations.

Why Civil Litigation is Crucial for Survivors

While criminal prosecution punishes traffickers, it does not necessarily provide survivors with financial compensation or the resources needed to rebuild their lives. Civil lawsuits can help survivors:

• Recover financial damages for lost wages, medical expenses, therapy, and housing.
• Receive compensation for the long-term trauma they endured.
• Hold corporations, institutions, and facilitators accountable for their role in trafficking.

As Czarczar pointed out, studies show that child sex abuse survivors may need an average of $250,000 in mental health care over their lifetime. Civil cases can help provide those funds, allowing survivors to access crucial services without financial stress.

Who Can Be Sued Under the TVPRA?

One of the most impactful aspects of civil litigation is the ability to hold third-party enablers accountable. Survivors and their attorneys can pursue lawsuits against:

• Hotels and motels that ignored clear signs of trafficking.
• Websites and social media platforms (such as Backpage.com and Pornhub) that facilitated trafficking through advertisements.
• Financial institutions that processed payments for traffickers.
• Transportation companies like airlines, bus lines, and rideshare services used to move victims.
• Corporate landlords or rental platforms (such as Airbnb or VRBO) where trafficking took place.

These lawsuits do more than just provide survivors with financial compensation—they force industries to change their practices. For example, after multiple lawsuits against hotel chains, the hospitality industry implemented mandatory anti-trafficking training programs in 2020.

The Legal Process: What Survivors Need to Know

Filing a civil lawsuit is entirely survivor-led, meaning survivors choose whether to pursue legal action, what claims to bring, and how to proceed at each stage. Here’s what the process typically looks like:

1. Case Evaluation & Survivor Readiness

Before filing a lawsuit, it’s essential to evaluate whether a civil case is in the survivor’s best interest. Litigation can be an emotionally taxing process, and some survivors may not be ready to relive their trauma in a legal setting. Advocates and trauma-informed lawyers play a crucial role in helping survivors navigate this decision.

2. Identifying Potential Defendants

Unlike criminal cases, which focus on convicting the trafficker, civil lawsuits identify all entities that knowingly benefited from trafficking. This could include businesses, hotels, banks, or websites that failed to take action despite clear warning signs.

3. Filing the Lawsuit & Pre-Trial Proceedings

Once the lawsuit is filed, defendants can either:

• Answer the complaint, moving forward to the discovery phase, where both sides gather evidence.
• File a motion to dismiss, arguing that the case does not meet legal requirements. However, many motions to dismiss in trafficking cases have been successfully defeated.

4. Settlement Negotiations

Many cases settle before going to trial, allowing survivors to avoid lengthy legal battles. However, if defendants refuse to take responsibility, the case proceeds to court.

5. Trial & Potential Outcomes

If a case goes to trial, survivors present evidence and testimony before a jury. If successful, they receive financial compensation, which can be life-changing, providing housing security, mental health treatment, and education opportunities.

Statute of Limitations: How Long Do Survivors Have to File?

Congress recognizes that trauma often delays a survivor’s ability to seek justice, so the TVPRA has longer statutes of limitations than many other types of cases:

• For adult survivors: Civil lawsuits must be filed within 10 years of the last trafficking incident.
• For minors (under 18 at the time of trafficking): Survivors have no statute of limitations—they can file at any time, as long as they were under 28 years old when this law changed in 2022.

This means that even survivors who escaped trafficking years ago may still be eligible to pursue civil claims.

The Role of Advocates & Nonprofits

Collaboration between lawyers, nonprofits, and survivor advocates is crucial. Many survivors may not know they have the right to sue or may not feel strong enough to go through the process. Advocates can help by:

• Documenting evidence early (such as hotel stays or financial transactions) to help survivors who may seek legal action years later.
• Connecting survivors with trauma-informed attorneys who specialize in these cases.
• Providing emotional and logistical support throughout the legal process.

Real-World Impact: How Civil Lawsuits Drive Systemic Change

Beyond helping individual survivors, civil litigation forces industries to take responsibility. Past lawsuits have led to:

• The shutdown of Backpage.com, a notorious website used for trafficking advertisements.
• Hotel industry reforms, including mandatory anti-trafficking training.
• Stronger financial regulations to prevent money laundering for traffickers.

These cases send a powerful message: profiting from human trafficking will come with consequences.

Conclusion: Justice Beyond Convictions

Civil lawsuits are a powerful but often overlooked tool in the fight against trafficking. While criminal cases punish traffickers, civil cases provide survivors with financial security and hold entire industries accountable.

As awareness grows, more survivors will have the opportunity to seek justice—not just in courtrooms but in their everyday lives, with greater financial stability, safer housing, and access to healing resources.

For survivors, advocates, and legal professionals alike, understanding civil litigation under the TVPRA is a crucial step toward full justice.

For more information on civil remedies for trafficking survivors, visit Safe House Project.

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