Portman’s bipartisan bill would give human trafficking survivors another chance

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) recently introduced a bipartisan bill to expunge the federal criminal records of human trafficking survivors, who commonly are charged with crimes like conspiracy and money laundering as a direct result of being trafficked.

“Trafficking victims are not criminals and they are not prostitutes. They are rape victims,” Sen. Portman said. “It’s time to stop punishing these victims and instead help them get their lives back.”

Sen. Portman on Jan. 28 signed on as the lead original cosponsor of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2020, S. 3240, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

If enacted, S. 3240 would authorize that non-violent criminal convictions of victims of trafficking be vacated and/or expunged if a victim can provide supporting documentation, such as law enforcement records, or testimony or sworn statement from a trained, professional staff member of a victim services organization or other professional from whom the person sought assistance to address the associated trauma, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Portman’s office.

Additionally, the bill would ensure that grant funding provided by the U.S. Office for Justice Programs and the U.S. Office on Violence Against Women are used for legal representation for post-conviction relief activities, among other provisions, according to the summary.

“I’ve met with a number of brave trafficking survivors in Ohio who have told me that after they were forced into sex, they were charged with prostitution,” said Sen. Portman. “This makes no sense and it hurts survivors at a time when they are recovering from the unimaginable trauma of being trafficked and sexually abused.”

“Our bipartisan bill would clear non-violent criminal convictions of trafficking survivors who were forced to break the law, allowing them to rebuild their lives without a criminal record,” added Sen. Gillibrand. “We have a responsibility to protect trafficking survivors, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.”

S. 3240 is endorsed by several organizations, including the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) and the National Survivor Network.