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With the support of HHS’s Office on Trafficking In Persons, Polaris operated a trusted national lifeline for trafficking victims for almost two decades — a program built from a survivor’s vision and expanded through deep listening and action. That experience made one thing clear: stopping trafficking means going beyond crisis response.  Survivors asked us to … Continued

In 2007, Polaris helped bring a bold survivor idea to life: a national human trafficking hotline. With the support of HHS’s Office on Trafficking In Persons, we built it from the ground up and operated it for nearly two decades, connecting hundreds of thousands of people to safety, support, and justice. But from the very … Continued

On July 31, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a remission process to compensate survivors of sex trafficking whose abuse was facilitated through ads on Backpage.com or CityXGuide. Eligible individuals need to file a petition by February 2, 2026.  Filing a remission petition can feel overwhelming. But the Backpage Survivor Remission Network, created by … Continued

Late one evening, a detective’s phone buzzes. A Polaris-trained Hotline advocate is on the line, calm and composed, with an urgent trafficking situation to report. A young woman has called the National Human Trafficking Hotline from a hotel just off the interstate. She’s scared. She’s not alone, and she’s worried about what will happen if … Continued

As the CEO of Polaris and a survivor of human trafficking, I’ve spent the last decade working alongside law enforcement to improve how we identify and respond to trafficking. But long before I stepped into this role, I sat — literally — in the back seat. ********** FORTY-FIVE. That’s how many contacts I had with … Continued

For nearly two decades, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has been more than a lifeline for survivors and a resource for community members. It has been a trusted partner to law enforcement — consistently transforming raw tips into actionable leads that drive investigations and bring traffickers to justice. At the same time, it connects survivors, … Continued

Law enforcement has always been a critical partner in the fight against human trafficking. For almost two decades, Polaris has collaborated closely with survivors, officers, investigators, and task forces at every level — responding to Hotline signals, analyzing trends, and co-creating solutions that improve outcomes for survivors and increase the likelihood of trafficker accountability. Much … Continued

Since 2007, Polaris has operated the National Human Trafficking Hotline, a lifeline for thousands. But answering the call is more than answering the phone. It’s creating tools, programs, and resources that didn’t exist — because survivors told us what was missing. Together, we’re answering the call to prevent and end human trafficking with survivors leading … Continued

Every year, the National Human Trafficking Hotline gives us a deeper understanding of how trafficking is affecting people in the U.S.—and how together, we’re making a difference. The 2024 statistics reflect thousands of moments when someone reached out for help, support, or simply to be heard. They highlight both the scale of the challenge and … Continued