Zephaniah “Zephi” Trevino has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to 12 years for murder and five years for aggravated robbery. The Dallas County District Attorney alleged Zephi —along with two men— had taken part in a robbery that left one man dead from a gunshot wound and another injured. Although Zephi was not responsible […]
Safe Harbor – What’s in a Name?
Lack of Consistency in Child Sex Trafficking Laws May Hurt Our Children By Christine Raino and Eliza Reock What’s in a name? A lot, actually. In the area of anti-sex trafficking law and policy, words and definitions matter. They have the ability to affect thousands of lives of individuals who have survived sex trafficking. In [...]
“My story can change things.” – Pieper Lewis, September 13, 2022
In sentencing child sex trafficking survivor, Pieper Lewis, on September 13, 2022, Judge David Porter stated, “Ms. Lewis, this is the second chance you asked for. You don’t get a third. Do you understand?” The judge was alluding to his sentencing order that imposed a term of probation in lieu of immediate imprisonment, however the “second chance” […]
Legislative Update Series: State Non-criminalization Laws
Shared Hope has been a leader on policy research in the field of child and youth sex trafficking for over 20 years, working to ensure federal, state, and local policies are rooted in and supported by research and promising practices. Shared Hope’s Policy Team provides technical assistance and advocacy support to Congressional and state legislators seeking research-based, […]
Fact Sheet: Protecting Trafficking Survivors from Unjust Criminalization
Protecting Trafficking Survivors from Unjust Criminalization Due to the power and control exercised by their traffickers, victims are often compelled or forced to commit crimes they otherwise would not. These crimes can range from prostitution and related charges to drug possession, or even more serious crimes such as trafficking itself. These “victim–offenders,” or survivors who […]
