I was a teenager when I was abducted and trafficked across the United States and into Canada.

The people who exploited me used both physical violence and psychological control. I was moved repeatedly, isolated from anyone who might recognize what was happening and given a different identity. I was coerced, drugged and sold. Like many trafficking victims, I was subjected not only to direct physical violence, but to a sustained effort to break down my sense of autonomy and convince me that escape was impossible.

Over time, the abuse reshaped how I saw myself and the world around me. My traffickers understood that control depends not only on force but also on fear, isolation and shame. They made it clear that if I tried to seek help, I would not be believed. They made me believe I was not worth saving.

When I eventually escaped, I believed the most difficult part of my life was behind me. Instead, I encountered another set of challenges that many trafficking survivors face in the United States.

Trafficking victims often charged with crimes forced on them

During the time I was being trafficked, I received multiple criminal charges that followed me for decades. I was forced into commercial sex acts that later resulted in a prostitution charge.

I also incurred minor charges related to the drugs I was given by my traffickers, and was charged for running from the police while trying to escape dangerous situations.

This is not unique to me – many trafficking victims are arrested and charged for offenses that are a direct result of their exploitation. This is part of how traffickers keep control. We’re told the police will see us as criminals, not victims. When you do get arrested, it makes that feel true. It keeps you scared, quiet and less likely to ask for help.

These records do not disappear once the trafficking ends. They follow survivors as they try to rebuild their lives, affecting their ability to........

© USA TODAY