Abigail Swenstein, staff attorney at The Legal Aid Society’s Exploitation Intervention Project, was interviewed by News 10 Albany to discuss legislation passed by the New York State Legislature that would provide a route for sex trafficking survivors to get convictions vacated for crimes they committed while under duress.

The Survivors of Trafficking Attaining Relief Together – or START Act – would allow survivors to petition the court to clear any offense resulting from their trafficking, prompting a judge to review evidence.

“This is a victim’s rights bill that gives judges more authority. This is not a get out of jail free card,” said Swenstein. “[It] allows labor trafficking survivors to vacate convictions and move on with their lives.”

See the full segment below.