Survivors of human trafficking may experience unspeakable violence. Yet their resilience is inspiring, and can help us learn ways to prevent and respond to trafficking in Maine. The Maine Human Trafficking Needs Assessment gives us the first statewide glimpse at the prevalence of sex trafficking in the state, and a greater understanding of the experience of survivors in our communities. The following quotes from real people in Maine can help us think about how to develop the best solutions for our state. Names were not included to protect the identity of the speakers.
[MORE: 5 things you need to know about sex trafficking in Maine]
“Trafficking is a symptom of another issue. It never is the only thing happening, there is always another issue.”
Sex trafficking in Maine is deeply connected to inequalities like poverty, trauma and addiction, gender and racial inequality, as well as a lack of opportunity and basic needs. In order to successfully address trafficking, we need to look at the bigger picture.
[MORE: These are the issues that lead to sex trafficking and how to prevent them]
“[They] have been living as survivors longer than not. They are groomed by their family and upbringing. These are the girls that are targeted by pimps — they are vulnerable and need to be loved, looking to be taken care of.”
Trafficking doesn’t always start with a trafficker. Many survivors have been experiencing trauma from birth, and in many cases, their trafficker is fulfilling an emotional void. Addressing that trauma successfully earlier on in life is an important step toward preventing trafficking later in life.
“They never touch your face. None of the damage is obvious. They get you where they know one can see.”
This is an issue that lies beneath the surface. Victims of trafficking are often scared to or prevented from asking for help, or they don’t realize that what’s happening to them is a crime. If we do not look deeper, trafficking may masquerade as addiction, abuse or poverty.
“I don’t go to a doctor or the hospital because I know I’ll be judged, or arrested.”
Fear of judgment can be a major barrier to survivors reaching out or seeking services. The more we understand this issue and can offer non-judgmental support, the more likely we are to be able to support survivors who want to build a new life.
“I actually do feel safe in prison — it stops the cycle for a while. But then when I get out it is the same thing all over again.”
Victims of trafficking are often engaged with other kinds of crime, and in Maine, trafficked individuals are typically incarcerated for those other crimes, not crimes related to prostitution. Because there are such limited resources for shelter, substance abuse treatment, and medical care for some Mainers who experience trafficking, incarceration may connect these victims with shelter and services. Sometimes, these unexpected solutions can offer valuable results for survivors, and carve out space for them to build the resources to leave their situation.
“People think you are safe in jail but you’re not. Not at all. They have people in here looking for you and tracking your every move.”
And yet, often the only solutions we have may be worse than the problem. Trafficking rings may have many connections within jail settings, in which as a survivor is even more closely monitored while incarcerated. Additionally, mental health and detox treatment is not typically appropriate to meet the needs of these complicated cases — and incarceration can increase the distrust for the system that many survivors already feel. We’ve worked with people who tell us that the trauma of the criminal justice system was worse than the trauma of the trafficking situation. No one survivor is the same — sometimes what is safe for one person may not be for another. That is why the most important step our system can take is to build trust with survivors, and let them be the experts in what they need to be safe and build a new life.
“If you tell a woman she has a choice, you need to accept her choice even if it is ‘no, I don’t want [services, help, etc.] right now.’ If they aren’t ready now, women need someone who will still be there.”
Developing the relationships to support safety and change can take a long time. Most trafficking survivors can’t be “rescued” from their situation. Truly giving someone a choice — which is the most respectful and ultimately most helpful way to offer support — requires gradual change. Without offering choice, our system may be no better than the trafficker, whose primary tactic is to take away choice.
“The consistency, support and connection to services, including [protection from abuse orders] is helpful.”
There are important ways that we can build safety and support for trafficking survivors, even using the resources we already have at hand — such as civil legal protections that are already a part of the justice system, such as protection from abuse orders or victim’s compensation. We don’t have to build an entirely new system to serve trafficking victims and survivors — we need to be creative about existing resources that can help support their healing and growth.
“I have the greatest support system that I have ever had in my life right now. I have an advocate, case manager, law enforcement that I can rely on.”
We know what works to respond, and we as a state are getter better at providing helpful and connected services where survivors can get the help they need and deserve. There is real hope for change and improvement in our systems — and Mainers are working to address the issues right now.
“There’s a wide gap between the resources we have and what we need.”
There’s so much work to be done to respond to trafficking in Maine. While we have made significant progress in developing our local response systems, we still must ensure that local teams have the staffing resources to support these complicated cases, and that victims have access to the full range of services that they need to facilitate healing: safe shelter, medical care, mental health care, substance abuse treatment, legal services and representation, reproductive and family planning services, as well as education and job training. When we keep the voices of survivors at the center of our efforts, we can ensure that we are prioritizing our efforts appropriately and empowering people to be leaders in their own lives.
Destie Hohman Sprague is the associate director at the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault. She may be reached at destie@mecasa.org.
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