ACCESS TO VICTIM SERVICES

EXPANDING SURVIVOR ACCESS TO SUPPORT

Financial and legal relief are both crucial parts of recovery for survivors of human trafficking, helping to address the lasting impact of their exploitation and providing a foundation for rebuilding their lives. For many survivors, these forms of relief are not just about stability; they are about recognition, justice, and the ability to move forward without barriers created by their trafficking experience. Yet despite their importance, far too few survivors are successfully accessing these resources.

Recognizing this, California must increase its outreach efforts and improve the distribution of available resources through the California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB), specifically under AB 629, and through the vacatur process that allows survivors to clear criminal records connected to their trafficking. Survivors, particularly those from marginalized or immigrant communities, often face language barriers, lack of legal assistance, and fear around engaging with government systems. Without targeted efforts to address these systemic obstacles, critical resources will continue to go unused and survivors will be left to shoulder the burden of their exploitation alone. 

Human Trafficking: Victim Compensation Program - AB 629

Existing regulations for CalVCB provide reimbursement for lost wages when a victim misses work due to injury or trauma resulting from a crime. To qualify, applicants are typically required to show formal employment documentation, such as a W-2, paystub, or other employer records. For survivors of human trafficking, those requirements are nearly impossible to meet, as traffickers do not provide paystubs or official employment records.

AB 629, enacted to support survivors, expands access to income loss compensation for people who experienced human trafficking. This bill clarifies that survivors can receive compensation for income lost as a direct result of being trafficked and allows CalVCB to consider alternative forms of documentation when determining eligibility.  Survivors who qualify may receive up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of two years in compensation for lost income. By recognizing the economic realities of trafficking, including the fact that survivors are often deprived of their liberty to earn wages, AB 629 helps ensure that survivors can access meaningful financial relief and take steps toward rebuilding stability and independence.

Record Relief for Survivors

Survivors of human trafficking often face criminal convictions or arrests that occurred as a direct result of their exploitation. These records can create long-term barriers to employment, housing, education, and stability, even after a survivor has escaped a trafficking situation. Recognizing this harm, California established a process under Penal Code §236.14 that allows survivors to clear or vacate certain convictions and arrests connected to their trafficking experience.

Through this vacatur relief process, a survivor may petition the court to have these convictions dismissed if they can show that the crimes were a direct result of being trafficked. Clearing these records helps remove the stigma and collateral consequences of criminalization, giving survivors a genuine opportunity to rebuild their lives. By acknowledging that no one should be punished for acts they were forced to commit, Penal Code §236.14 supports survivors’ pathways to justice, independence, and long-term recovery.

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