It's no secret that a criminal conviction can follow one through life and make life more difficult. But some of the hardest convictions to get beyond are those with some sort of sex involved. Like prostitution. Even if you were forced into it.
Turns out, Nevada lawmakers recognize this fact. So they've introduced a law that would allow sex workers to have prostitution convictions expunged from their record.
It's called AB6, and it focuses mainly on men and women who were victimized by sex traffickers. Assemblyman John Hambrick, D-Las Vegas, told the Assembly’s Committee of the Judiciary this law would require victims to petition the court, but that's it.
“There would not be a plea bargain or false testimony to turn in someone or snitch on someone,” Hambrick said.
Julie Janovsky, senior policy specialist for Polaris Project, an advocacy group involved with ending human trafficking, said former sex workers are terrified of background checks. “How do they defend (that) they were convicted for prostitution?” she asked the committee.
And we're with them. No one should be denied the right to recover from trauma.
Turns out, Nevada lawmakers recognize this fact. So they've introduced a law that would allow sex workers to have prostitution convictions expunged from their record.
It's called AB6, and it focuses mainly on men and women who were victimized by sex traffickers. Assemblyman John Hambrick, D-Las Vegas, told the Assembly’s Committee of the Judiciary this law would require victims to petition the court, but that's it.
“There would not be a plea bargain or false testimony to turn in someone or snitch on someone,” Hambrick said.
Julie Janovsky, senior policy specialist for Polaris Project, an advocacy group involved with ending human trafficking, said former sex workers are terrified of background checks. “How do they defend (that) they were convicted for prostitution?” she asked the committee.
And we're with them. No one should be denied the right to recover from trauma.
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others. It happens every day in every state in America and around the world. Polaris Project is committed to combating human trafficking and modern-day slavery, and to strengthening the anti-trafficking movement. To learn more about human trafficking in the United States, please visit our website at [https://www.polarisproject.org]
If you have information about a possible case of human trafficking or you would like to request more information, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-3737-888.