Story of Justice: Alexis Survives Years of Sex Trafficking

Story of Justice: Alexis Survives Years of Sex Trafficking

Background

Alexis* was sex trafficked for almost a decade. During that time, she overcame terrible forms of torture, punishment, and forced experiences. While being trafficked, the victimizer forced Alexis to commit crimes directly related to her victimization, which resulted in charges and convictions against her.

Legal Assistance

When the opportunity came about, Alexis assisted prosecutors in their case against her trafficker. As a resilient individual, Alexis moved forward to overcome her victimization and became a survivor of human trafficking. Nevertheless, the charges and convictions Alexis received while being trafficked haunted her throughout her recovery. Alexis, who could not afford an attorney, reached out to Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) seeking assistance. An expungement for her convictions would vastly improve her chances of getting control back over her life.

A CCLA attorney worked with Alexis to file her expungement. After a long process which included talking with the State Attorney and filing a petition, CCLA finally achieved an order granting her expungement.

Why it Matters

Alexis is thrilled with the outcome of this case. Now that her record is clear, she is ready to begin her next chapter in life. Alexis has a beautiful family now and is excited to start school and pursue a career.

Accessible legal assistance is critical for survivors such as Alexis, to successfully overcome tragic situations. It is up to organizations like Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida to provide this critically needed service to the most vulnerable members of our community. To learn more about CCLA, visit: coasttocoastlegalaid.org