As a survivor of familial trafficking, I grew up believing what was happening to me was normal. When I got away, I didn’t know there was a name for what I experienced or where to go for help. Since then, much has changed in the anti-trafficking world. The public is more aware of both the crime and service providers, including here in Kentucky , who understand trauma and help survivors work through to the other side.
But further change is needed — especially creating opportunities for trafficking survivors to clear criminal records that resulted from our trafficking experiences. One example is the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act , which would create the first pathway for record relief at the federal level.
I know the need for this relief from personal experience. In my case, I was forced to write bad checks as a teenager and forged checks on my trafficker’s account. As a young adult, I ended up with 15 felony charges from my trafficking and spent two years in prison. Then I struggled to find a job. My record often disqualified me during background checks. When I would make it to an interview, I didn’t know what I would have to disclose about my trafficking and having to explain everything frustrated and embarrassed me.