Legal Deserts Report – ACCESSING LEGAL SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS OF SEX TRAFFICKING

Human trafficking victims who are exploited in the commercial sex industry are highly likely to be arrested for offenses catalyzed by their victimization.

The resulting criminal records shadow survivors out of trafficking and serve as barriers to achieving sustainable independence.

Securing legal services can be a time consuming, trauma-inducing, and sometimes impossible endeavor.

This report analyzes the accessibility of various forms of legal services for survivors of trafficking. The resulting data showcases a dramatic gap of providers able to assist survivors, leaving survivors in a legal desert.