Save the date for Amara’s fall friendraiser event on Wednesday, October 3rd featuring Vivian Huelgo, Chief Counsel for ABA’s Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence. Vivian will be speaking about the importance of providing expungements and record sealing for individuals who obtained criminal records while trafficked.
What: Expungements and Record Sealing: A Critical Remedy to Human Trafficking
When: October 3rd, 2018 // 5:30 – 7:30PM
Where: Foley Hoag LLP // 1717 K St NW, Washington, DC 20006
Survivors of sex trafficking face many challenges when they reclaim their lives after victimization and clearing prostitution records is one of the most difficult to overcome. Unfortunately, in June, the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) shocked the anti-trafficking community by announcing a policy that will only leave survivors with fewer options.
For the first time ever, the OVC stipulated in its 2018 request for proposals that grantees will be barred from using awarded money to provide legal representation for victims to clear—also known as expunging or vacating—criminal records acquired during trafficking. Without this process, survivors are prevented from accessing certain jobs and services, and are effectively punished for having been victimized.
This announcement directly impacts Amara’s funding, so we are calling on our supporters and their friends to become educated about this topic and to consider partnering with us in order to ensure that expungements and record sealing will continue to be an option for our clients so they can move forward with their lives.
Invite your friends, classmates, and coworkers! Seating is limited, so please RSVP by sending an email to info@amaralegal.org with your full name as well as those of your guests.
If you are unable to make it to this event, please consider setting up a recurring monthly donation in support of our efforts to provide free criminal record expungements and sealings by clicking the donate button below.
