Thanks to a 2021 law, certain charges will be cleared from the records of trafficking survivors if they prove the crime was committed due to trafficking.
A sex trafficking survivor shares her story and the importance of a new law aimed at helping survivors during a forum at Virginia Wesleyan University Tuesday. Olivia was the first person in the state to have her record erased, which included misdemeanor charges, as part of the law.
Thanks to a 2021 law, certain charges like prostitution will be cleared from the criminal record of trafficking survivors if they prove the crime was committed due to being trafficked. During a discussion panel at Blocker Auditorium, Olivia shared how this legal shift changed her life, and said it will change the lives of other survivors moving forward.
“I think that it’s important for us to not stop here,” said Olivia. “I feel like we got the stepping stone. Now, it’s time to build a bridge.”
Olivia was a lead advocate for the passage of the law and previously spoke with 13News Now about her experience.
