Sex worker Outreach Project Behind Bars

Many of those experiencing trafficking and exploitation have been arrested for prostitution. Many identify as LGBTQ+, and many have verifiable mental health disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Substance Use Disorder, either pre-existing or as a result of their experience being trafficked. All of these factors can contribute to behavioral patterns and capacity limitations that preclude survivors from accessing traditional social services. For further example: If a survivor of human trafficking struggles with Substance Use Disorder, they are less likely to be albe to comply with a sobriety requirement associated with a housing service. If they are LGBTQ+, they may feel unsafe accepting assistance from a faith-based organization. If a survivor is experiencing homelessness, they will struggle to maintain employment, and that lack of employment may lead to being out of compliance with probation or parole requirements and can lead to rearrest. The cycle of homelessness, exploitation, incarceration and generational poverty is complicated by ever changing gender and sexual identity social “norms” and exploitation doesn’t happen in a bubble.  There is mounting evidence that people who have been exploited and have been incarcerated are underserved and at a high risk of being re-exploited and re-victimized.

SWOP Behind Bars was started to amplify the and respect the voices of Sex Workers and sex trafficking survivors who didn't fit into the victim mold created from the rhetoric of Human trafficking Organizations.  As a survivor of exploitation and domestic violence and ALSO be criminalized for being an adult consensual sex worker, I know from a very personal perspective how complicated it is to navigate the systems of justice when they're is so much discrimination against people who have traded sex for survival. Most people who have engaged in trading sex are not eligible for traditional victims of trafficking services and even if they are, they fail to provide relevant services like education and identification documents.  Our work has led us to discover that most people who have been released from jail or prison lack identification, housing, clothing, food and health services and many other things that can help them stay safe and potentially go onto thrive if they are provided with the things they need.  We work to fill the gaps that have been exposed between vulnerable criminalized populations as they work to reenter society and thrive.

The Problem:

Availability: Past activities that serve survivors of violence and exploitation in reentry are spotty at best.  There is a critical need for understanding with regard to how commission of said  “survival crimes'' intersect with the actual survivor community. 

Access: Lack of access to stable long-term housing leads to increased instances of homelessness among those having experienced incarceration, which limits access to the resources necessary in order to successfully navigate application processes for state, local, federal and non-profit support. 

Scope of Available Services: Assisting survivors in finding (and keeping) education, job training and employment, identifying transitional housing, and receiving appropriate, holistic mentoring under and harm reduction framework, are key elements of successful re-entry into our communities

The Solution;
We have a long, documented history  providing resources for persons experiencing substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder, those in need of access to healthcare, HIV and HEP C prevention and treatment, and survivors of human trafficking in needs of mental health services that cater to their specific traumas, needs and obstacles. We meet clients where they are physically, psychologically and recognize that their crisis is the primary driver of their need. We prioritize the dignity of the individual. 

Our organic community outreach efforts uniquely position us to identify instances of exploitation and potential human trafficking. We coordinate resources such as temporary shelter while awaiting long term housing or rehabilitation program entry and subsidisation of cost for low barrier, affordable housing with utilities and furnishings, keeping in mind access to local programing for sober living support. We also provide on-demand assistance with accessing vital identification documents such as Birth Certificates, Social Security cards and State Issued Identification Cards.

We provide financial assistance necessary for re-enfranchisement which allows individuals to receive entitlements, public assistance, advanced education and in some cases, student loans. This includes but is not limited to the paying of bail, court fines and fees and supervision costs, financial assitance with vacatur and technical assistance with the vacatur process to people who are in prison or jail who also identify as human trafficking victims or survivors. These crisis interventions are often the things that keep people from achieving success with re-entry.  

To date - SWOP behind Bars enjoys a 90% success rate in reducing recidivism amoung our clients that take advantage of our wrap around services but drive their own case management.  We guide.  They do the work. 

SWOP Behind Bars is a unique coalition that is based in human rights, harm reduction, services provision and community, prison and jail outreach. We have reached out directly to incarcerated people who have also experienced exploitation; this is a substantial variance from the current models of the referral network. We are proactive in our approach and do not wait until someone is experiencing extreme distress due to nonavailability of post-release resources.  We start our interactions with people where they are at.  Whether it be on the street during our outreach or while they are in prison or when they are arrested - we lead with the message that we don't care where you've been - we only want to help you get where you want to go. We are led by a team of people who have also had experiences within the sex trade and everyone in our organization has experienced incarceration.  We are peer led and peer driven.  We have people in all levels of recovery and they all find safe spaces within our ranks. The best person to help lead someone out of a challenge is someone who has walked that road.  Thats who we are.