Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025
Summary
What This Bill Does
The bill amends 18 USC Chapter 237 to create new Section 3771A: framework for trafficking victims to move courts to vacate non-violent convictions and expunge arrest records when offenses were direct result of being trafficked, requires detailed provisions of new Section 3771A: definitions (level A/B offenses, victim of trafficking, violent crime), motion procedures, hearing requirements, evidentiary factors, supporting evidence standards, and requires reporting requirements: U.S. Attorneys must report to AG on motions filed within 1 year; AG must report on training; GAO must assess impact within 3 years including recommendations for improving access. It relies on exemptions, liability protections, definition changes, and compliance mandates. The main policy areas are Criminal Justice, Finance, and Social Welfare.
Who Benefits and How
Trafficking victims convicted of non-violent offenses could face fewer barriers, Human trafficking survivors with federal records could face fewer barriers, and Trafficking victims facing federal prosecution could face reduced risk.
Who Bears the Burden and How
U.S. Attorneys offices would take on compliance duties, Federal prosecutors would take on compliance duties, and Federal courts would take on compliance duties.
Key Provisions
- Amends 18 USC Chapter 237 to create new Section 3771A: framework for trafficking victims to move courts to vacate non-violent convictions and expunge arrest records when offenses were direct result of being trafficked.
- Requires detailed provisions of new Section 3771A: definitions (level A/B offenses, victim of trafficking, violent crime), motion procedures, hearing requirements, evidentiary factors, supporting evidence standards...
- Requires reporting requirements: U.S. Attorneys must report to AG on motions filed within 1 year; AG must report on training; GAO must assess impact within 3 years including recommendations for improving access...
- Prohibits Office of Justice Programs and Office on Violence Against Women from restricting grant recipients from using funds for post-conviction legal representation.
- Amends 18 USC Chapter 1 to create Section 28: human trafficking defense allowing defendants to establish duress by showing they were victims of trafficking at time of offense.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
The bill amends 18 USC Chapter 237 to create new Section 3771A: framework for trafficking victims to move courts to vacate non-violent convictions and expunge arrest records when offenses were direct result of being trafficked, requires detailed provisions of new Section 3771A: definitions (level A/B offenses, victim of trafficking, violent crime), motion procedures, hearing requirements, evidentiary factors, supporting evidence standards, and requires reporting requirements: U.S. Attorneys must report to AG on motions filed within 1 year; AG must report on training; GAO must assess impact within 3 years including recommendations for improving access.
Key Policy Areas
Criminal Justice, Finance, Social Welfare
Primary Purpose
The bill amends 18 USC Chapter 237 to create new Section 3771A: framework for trafficking victims to move courts to vacate non-violent convictions and expunge arrest records when offenses were direct result of being trafficked, requires detailed provisions of new Section 3771A: definitions (level A/B offenses, victim of trafficking, violent crime), motion procedures, hearing requirements, evidentiary factors, supporting evidence standards, and requires reporting requirements: U.S. Attorneys must report to AG on motions filed within 1 year; AG must report on training; GAO must assess impact within 3 years including recommendations for improving access.
Policy Domains
Section 2 - Federal Expungement for Victims of Trafficking
Identified Gains
- Trafficking victims convicted of non-violent offenses
- Human trafficking survivors with federal records
- Trafficking victims facing federal prosecution
- Trafficking victims charged with federal offenses
- Imprisoned trafficking victims
Identified Costs
- U.S. Attorneys offices
- Federal prosecutors
- Federal courts
- U.S. Attorneys
- Government Accountability Office
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMrs. Gillibrand (for herself, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Coons, and Mr. …
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in Senate
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Human trafficking survivors with federal records, Imprisoned trafficking victims, Trafficking survivors needing legal representation
Federal courts, Federal prosecutors, Government Accountability Office
Criminal defense attorneys, Legal aid organizations serving trafficking victims
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
A Federal offense that is not a violent crime
A Federal offense that is a violent crime, excluding violent crimes of which a child was victim
As defined in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
As defined in section 16(a) of title 18 (crime of violence)
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology