Prioritizing Survivor Voices at the Federal Level: Criminal Records Relief

For nearly two decades, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has been more than a lifeline for survivors and a resource for community members. It has been a trusted partner to law enforcement — consistently transforming raw tips into actionable leads that drive investigations and bring traffickers to justice. At the same time, it connects survivors, … Continued

Law enforcement has always been a critical partner in the fight against human trafficking. For almost two decades, Polaris has collaborated closely with survivors, officers, investigators, and task forces at every level — responding to Hotline signals, analyzing trends, and co-creating solutions that improve outcomes for survivors and increase the likelihood of trafficker accountability. Much … Continued

Since 2007, Polaris has operated the National Human Trafficking Hotline, a lifeline for thousands. But answering the call is more than answering the phone. It’s creating tools, programs, and resources that didn’t exist — because survivors told us what was missing. Together, we’re answering the call to prevent and end human trafficking with survivors leading … Continued

Every year, the National Human Trafficking Hotline gives us a deeper understanding of how trafficking is affecting people in the U.S.—and how together, we’re making a difference. The 2024 statistics reflect thousands of moments when someone reached out for help, support, or simply to be heard. They highlight both the scale of the challenge and … Continued

Advocates across the anti-human-trafficking field are calling on Congress to pass the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act, which would create the first federal pathway for survivors of labor and sex trafficking to clear criminal records resulting from their trafficking experience. This law would break down a massive barrier to survivors’ economic stability and mobility, as having … Continued

After six years in executive leadership, Catherine Chen has announced her intention to step down as CEO. The Polaris Board of Directors has appointed Jen Jinks and Taskeen Hamidullah-Bahl as interim co-CEOs to lead the organization while it undertakes a search for the next leader of Polaris.   Catherine joined Polaris as a Chief Program Officer … Continued

As our country  prepares to transition to the next presidential administration, a new Congress, and new local leaders, our organizational values that have grounded our work for the last 22 years remain unchanged. The mission at Polaris is clear: End human trafficking and support survivors on their journeys of freedom. We will continue to center … Continued

The reactions to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson are still rippling across the country. At the end of June, the Court held that arresting a person sleeping outside for lack of housing is not a violation of the Eighth Amendment, which protects against cruel and unusual punishment by the government. Although … Continued

Transgender people exist within the perfect storm of vulnerabilities that human traffickers use to exploit them. For example, trans people often lack familial support, are harassed for simply being who they are or supporting others like them, and experience rejection from services and opportunities – like housing and medical care. Traffickers take advantage of these … Continued

Financial abuse is one of the primary ways traffickers enforce control over the people they exploit, and how they profit from that exploitation.

Trafficking survivors aren’t defined only by their exploitation — they play many more roles and carry more identities than survivor. One of the most common identities survivors also hold is mother. Survivors support their families, wanting to see their children thrive. Unfortunately, their ability to care for their children can run into systemic barriers resulting … Continued

Without consistent and clear state laws and federal legislation, criminal records remain one of the biggest obstacles that survivors face in rebuilding their lives after exploitation.