Criminal Record Relief

The Importance of Criminal Record Relief for Human Trafficking Survivors

Blog Post — March 20, 2019

Survivors of human trafficking have criminal records because they were forced into commercial sex, or drug sales, or other offenses. Many, but not all states have recognized that this is fundamentally unfair and that survivors of human trafficking deserve the chance to have those records cleared. 

New Analysis Grades States on Criminal Record Relief for Survivors of Human Trafficking

March 14, 2019

The American Bar Association’s Survivor Reentry Project, Brooklyn Law School, the University of Baltimore School of Law, and Polaris launched a joint report rating all 50 states and D.C. on the effectiveness of their criminal record relief laws for survivors of human trafficking. 

State Report Cards: Grading Criminal Record Relief Laws for Survivors of Human Trafficking

Published March 1, 2019
We offer detailed report cards for each state, assessing what works and what doesn't in their laws - if they have one - and providing clear steps for improvement.

Polaris Statement on Cyntoia Brown Clemency

January 7, 2019

Polaris issued a statement hailing the announcement by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam that he is commuting the life sentence of Cyntoia Brown.

Victims of Human Trafficking Aren’t Criminals

Blog Post — September 29, 2016

Our justice system needs to provide victims with the tools required to help them rebuild their lives.

Need help? Polaris operates the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline.